And we also asked the PM about his discussions with Raul Rocha and whether they involved the Southern Deep Port. And while he reiterated the developer's press release that there is currently no business partnership between Legacy Holdings and the port, what does he think of former UDP Senator Michael Peyrefitte calling it a "dead raise" project back in 2024? Here's what he said.
Courtney Menzies:
"Was the Southern Deep Port something that was discussed in your meeting?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"No."
Courtney Menzies:
"Are you aware Legacy Holdings was said to be an investor in the port?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"They're not an investor in the port. I found out just like you when it became public that they were discussing Legacy, as I told you the whole reason that we met with this group is because they expressed interest in investing in Belize and at that time nobody knew that there was any illicit company. They had just bought the Miss Universe franchise for crying out loud. So nobody knew. And I'm sure that even the investors for the Deep Water port in Dangriga did not know also. But from what I'm told from therein they were in discussion from April to September which they made public and nothing worked so there was no foul, there's nothing there."
Reporter:
"Did the Commerce Bight Developer prove that they already had the $50 million?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"What they said is that they have a plan to be able to raise it. Obviously part of the plan is to meet with different investors to be able to get investment and so that was done through the Ministry of Ports and it came to Cabinet. We had lengthy discussions, back and forth. One of the things that we promised the people in Dangriga is that we were going to open that port as far back as 2006 and when we finally found something we believe that can work, we agreed to support."
Courtney Menzies:
"In 2024 Mike Peyrefitte stood up in the Senate and he called the project a dead raise project. Considering that not much as happened since the groundbreaking what would be your response to what he said back then?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I don't usually respond to what Peyrefitte says so I have no comment."
Courtney Menzies:
"But don't you feel like he had a point?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"No I don't."
