Last year member of the House of Representatives for Cayo South Julius Espat sued Prime Minister Dean Barrow in his capacity as Minister of Finance and Economic Development for deciding to delay a bill authorizing the spending of funds, including monies gained through the Petro-Caribe program. Espat, who also chairs the House’s Public Accounts Committee, says that the agreement entered into by Government in 2012 with ALBA Petro-Caribe Belize Energy Limited is not enforceable as approval was not sought from the National Assembly, and without such approval any loans gained cannot be paid from the public purse. Shortly after the suit was made the Government passed a motion in a meeting of the House and subsequently the Senate authorizing such loans. Today the lawsuit was back before Justice Courtney Abel and a trial date of June 2 and 3 has been agreed, with a final meeting in April to settle matters of submissions and other issues. Attorney representing the Government Senior Counsel Denys Barrow gave the press an update after the in-chamber session this morning at the Supreme Court.
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