P.B.L. Asks Contractor General to Investigate Signing of Definitive Agreement

Contractor General Maria Arthurs is being asked to look into the circumstances of the signing of the Definitive Agreement between the Government of Belize and Portico Enterprises Limited.  A letter dated June second, 2023, cites various sections of the Contractor General Act that empower Arthurs to launch an investigation, following a review of the information provided by Ted Peralta, Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Belize Limited.  The letter goes on to state, (quote), In keeping with the above provisions of the Act, we hereby request that you investigate the circumstances of the signing of the Definitive Agreement by and between the Government of Belize and Portico Enterprises Limited which was signed by former Minister Erwin Contreras purporting to bind the government to obligations unprecedented in their extremity.  We request that you do so as there are objectively unreasonable grounds to believe that the circumstances surrounding Minister Contreras’ signing of the Definitive Agreement were excessively abusive and amounted to a corrupt act, (end quote).  Attached to the letter are several documents, including transcripts of various interviews conducted by News 5, as well as 7 News with former government officials in respect of the Definitive Agreement.  The letter to the Contractor General succeeds a similar request made to Ombudsman Gilbert Suazo last week, also asking him to launch an investigation into corruption and wrongdoing by the former Minister of Economic Development.