G.O.B.’s Stake Bank Compulsory Acquisition Put on Pause  

We’ve been covering the Government of Belize’s plan to compulsorily acquire twenty-three and a half acres of land on Stake Bank Island. Well, that plan has hit an early roadblock. Michael Feinstein has filed a constitutional claim challenging the legality of the government’s move. Through his attorney, Godfrey Smith, Feinstein also sought an urgent injunction to stop the acquisition process, which typically takes at least three months to complete.  Today, attorneys for both Feinstein and the Government of Belize faced off in the Senior Courts to argue the injunction. However, a proposal was made in court for the government to pause its actions until the constitutional challenge is resolved and a verdict is reached. Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay, who represents the Government of Belize, had this to say after today’s adjournment.

 

Eamon Courtenay, Attorney-At-Law

“The judge raised with us whether we can resolve the substantive hearing by the end of the year and we were able to agree with the dates. The matter will be tried on the nineteenth and twentieth of December. Therefore, there was no need to hear the injunction since the trial will be expedited. As I understand it the attorney general has given an undertaking that they will not proceed with the compulsory acquisition until this matter has been determined. The judge indicated to us that he would hope to have a decision within two to three weeks after we have argued it So, before the end of January we anticipate knowing the result of this case.”