As you heard last night, developer David Gegg said that someone from the previous government solicited campaign financing from him prior to the 2020 general elections and informed him via message that it would be the requirement for him to receive environmental clearance for the project. Gegg said that he did not facilitate the stipulation, but after having several meetings with the relevant parties, he felt certain that the project would materialize and hired the law firm of Morales-Peyrefitte to draft up the Definitive Agreement.
David Gegg
David Gegg, Portico Developer
“Having provided all the necessary documents to all parties, and with our environmental studies nearing completion, and having no reason to believe that they would not pass muster, we retained the services of the law firm of Morales Peyrefitte LLP, as a Definitive Agreement was now needed. That firm was recommended to me as a firm that had experience with the drafting and negotiating of agreements with the government. I, at that time, instructed Mr David Morales to draft the Definitive Agreement in conjunction with attorneys from Boskalis in the Netherlands. After several months and after amendments were made by the relevant parties, the draft Definitive Agreement was forwarded on June first, 2021 to Ministers Panton, Peyrefitte, and Contreras.”
Gegg said he did not think that Contreras, an agent of the state, needed approval from any other minister of government, certainly not Panton, who was a junior minister, or the former Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte, who was an unelected minister, in order to sign the agreement. But Gegg said the agreement would not be signed until Portico had obtained environmental clearance, which his attorney indicated was possible.
David Gegg, Portico Developer
“I consulted with Mr Morales, who advised this was doable and he proceeded to amend the agreement. He sent it to me, and I in turn shared it with Minister Contreras. Several days later, I was told that the signing of the Definitive Agreement would be on October 1, 2020 in Belmopan. I attended that meeting and the document was signed. I don’t question whether Minister Contreras could have signed that agreement. I must say that I was not aware of any protocols or procedures which the government at the time may have had, but I knew that he was the substantive minister appointed by the governor general. He was an agent of the state. In my view, he did not need permission from Mrs Taegar-Panton, a junior minister or Michael Peyrefitte, an unelected minister, especially as those persons were clearly and openly supporting other competing interests.”
The first witness to appear during yesterday’s senate inquiry proceeding was Sunjay Hotchandani, a resident of Belize City who said that he was the director of several companies that deal with real estate business. He opened with a prepared statement. Hotchandani refused to answer many of the questions that were asked, on the advice of his attorney. His reasons for refusing to answer was, “it does not relate to the terms of reference of the inquiry”.
Kevin Herrera
Kevin Herrera, Senator
“Are you familiar with the company Key Star Limited?”
Sunjay Hotchandani, Businessman
“Yes.”
Kevin Herrera
“Fire Star Limited?”
Sanjay Hotchandani
“Yes.”
Kevin Herrera
“Vision Project Limited?”
Kevin Herrera
“Alkaline Limited?”
Sanjay Hotchandani
“Yes.”
Kevin Herrera
“Building Blocks Limited?”
Sanjay Hotchandani
“Yes.”
Kevin Herrera
“Inaudible…”
Sanjay Hotchandani
“Yes.”
Kevin Herrera
“Build Zone Limited?”
Sanjay Hotchandani
“Yes.”
Kevin Herrera
“Are you a director of any of those companies or all of those companies?”
Sanjay Hotchandani
“On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer your question because it does not relate to the terms of reference.”
Kevin Herrera
“Are you a shareholder of those companies?”
Sanjay Hotchandani
“On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer your question because it does not relate to the terms of reference.”
While Hotchandani initially refused to state his relation to the nine companies, he later revealed that he is the director of the companies and that the companies sold land to Portico Enterprise. Upon checking with his legal advisor, the businessman later admitted to Senator Bevinton Cal that his companies had sold lands to the developers of the Portico project.
Bevinton Cal
Bevinton Cal, Senator
“Mr Sanjay, with all due respect, these are general questions that I’m asking. Are you familiar with Portico Enterprise Limited?”
Sonjay Hotchandani, Realtor
“Yes, I am.”
Senator Bevinton Cal
“Can you elaborate on your familiarity with the company?”
Sonjay Hotchandani
“I’m just familiar with what’s the public knowledge.”
Senator Bevinton Cal
“Can you explain what is that, Sir? The public knowledge.”
Sonjay Hotchandani
“That they’re trying to build a port.”
Senator Bevinton Cal
“Have you had any encounter with any directors of the said company?
Sonjay Hotchandani
“On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer your question as it does not relate to the terms of reference.”
Senator Bevinton Cal
“Again, Sir, with all due respect, these are general questions that I’m asking. Mr Sonjay we have a document here. You said earlier that you were familiar with Key Star Limited, Vision Project Limited, Alkaline Limited, Build Zone Limited, what is your familiarity with these companies?”
Sonjay Hotchandani
“On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer your question as itdoes not relate to the terms of reference.”
Senator Bevinton Cal
“Are you familiar with Vision Project Limited?
Sonjay Hotchandani
“Yes.”
Senator Bevinton Cal
“Mr Sonjay, the Clerk just gave you a document which states the names of these companies and this document is saying that you’re the director of these companies. Can you confirm or deny that?”
At the start of the proceedings during Wednesday’s senate inquiry, Committee Chair, Senator Janelle Chanona warned the witnesses that if they are deemed responsible for defamation, libel or slander of any of the committee members, they can and will be dealt with to the full extent of the law. Chanona said that in past proceedings, members of the committee were being character assassinated. She said that this would not be tolerated going forward.
Janelle Chanona, Chairman, Special Senate Select Committee
“I also take this opportunity on behalf of the Committee to highlight to any witnesses, anyone in writing or verbal that would seek to defame, slander or libel any member of this committee. The committee will not be bullied or intimidated into not using its powers to ensure that that does not happen. If it does happen, we will take every action empowered under the law to defend itself against any such accusations.”
This morning at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, members of Rotary Club Sunrise, Courts Belize, and K.H.M.H. staff were present for the opening of a lactation lounge where mothers and their newborns will be able to breastfeed in comfort. The room was renovated by members of the Rotary and furnished with various appliances by Courts. Baby-friendly hospitals are essential for supporting breastfeeding and promoting the health of newborns and their mothers. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Breastfeeding is not simply a lifestyle decision, it is an investment in health for both the baby and the mother. Breast milk contains the perfect balance of nutrients, is easily digested, and its composition changes to meet the baby’s needs, especially during the first month of life. At the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, a room has been furnished with all the amenities necessary for a mother and her newborn to bond.
Chandra Cansino
Chandra Cansino, C.E.O., Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital
“In a lot of cases, depending on the type of deliveries that the mothers have, they breastfeed their babies in the bed or at their bedside. However, some are not new mothers, some are already lactating mothers, and we have staff that are lactating mothers, so it’s really to provide an environment where anybody that comes to the hospital needs to breastfeed or to extract milk, they have a safe space to do that. And so, this is what the lounge will serve as.”
Baby-friendly hospitals allow for early initiation of breastfeeding and encourage immediate and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact after birth. Breastfeeding benefits mothers by reducing the risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer. As part of its community outreach initiative, Rotary Club of Belize (Sunrise) saw the importance of creating a lactation lounge at the KHMH based on a particular need.
Misty Michael
Misty Michael, President, Rotary Club, Sunrise
“One of our fellow Rotarians, Dr. Selma Bermudez, is actually an epidemiologist here at the hospital. She was aware of the situation with the room at the time and that the hospital was in need of assistance in renovating it. She brought the project to the club, our service projects committee evaluated the potential project. One of the areas of focus for Rotary is maternal and child health, so we saw it fitting that it was a project that our club should partner on.”
Rotary Sunrise, in bringing the project to life, turned to Courts Belize for assistance. Its parent company, Unicomer, took advantage of the opportunity and donated furniture and appliance.
“We have recliners. We want mom to be very comfortable and this is the ideal time, it’s Mother’s Day and I am so happy that this is launched during Mother’s Day. We have recliners. Our new moms just went through a whole lot. They went through nine months and their bodies have gone through a lot. We want them to be comfortable so we have some comfortable seating arrangements with the recliners. We also have a fridge that we donated as well. We want to keep the breast milk cool because they will have more breast milk. And then we have baby gear. We see the need for it, for new moms and the importance of breastfeeding in the formative years of a child’s life and we said, definitely, we’d like to be a part of this.”
Baby-friendly hospitals are essential for supporting breastfeeding and promoting the health of newborns and mothers. The Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative was launched by UNICEF and the World Health Organization. The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital was officially recognized as a baby friendly hospital in 2008.
Chandra Cansino
“Since then, we have been evaluated externally, every two years to make sure that we are meeting the international standards and one of those is to make sure that we have a lactation area. We did have one before but it was not as nice as this and so we are extremely grateful. This is very comfortable and it will facilitate both patients and staff if they need to either extract milk or breastfeed.”
This initiative is not just about improving breastfeeding rates; it’s about ensuring that all aspects of care for mothers and babies are optimized to promote health and well-being from the start. Isani Cayetano for News Five.
The Ministry of Finance is yet to locate the funds needed to replace the Belcan Bridge, though it remains in a state of disrepair. A study done on the bridge by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing found that the bridge needs urgent replacement. So, what is the hold up? Well, the Minister of Infrastructure Development, Julius Espat says it is now out of his hands. On Wednesday, he told us that that he has no clue what the plan is.
Julius Espat
Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure Development
“Again you are dealing with another ministry. I have no clue as to what is in their plans as it pertains to giving us the budget. We have done our job. Our job is to analyze the structures, to alert them as to the urgent need of replacing it. We have done the feasibility study. WE have done the design. We have secured the loan. It is up to the ministry of finance to make the final decision and I have no real input in that.”
Paul Lopez
“This cant be news to you. I am sure you will get updates as times passes.”
Julius Espat
“That is gossip. I don’t deal with gossip. I deal with what decisions are made in Cabinet.”
Paul Lopez
“So you are waiting for a response.”
Julius Espat
“From day one I have been waiting for a response. But it is not our decision. Remember we are service providers and if the allocation is given to us the work will start immediately if they believe that they are other priorities then I have to respect?”
Paul Lopez
“Who pushes and presses this as a priority given the current state of the bridge?”
Julius Espat
“I do, because I depend on the technical expertise given to me by our professional staff, by international lending institutions that also have seen the need. So we are doing our job. So if you fault me for that and want to call me emotional, or that I lobby to much or too passionate about it then that is fine. But I do what is given for me and the Prime Minister has given me an opportunity to serve as the minister of infrastructure development and I do that to the best of my ability.”
On Wednesday, the Government of Belize celebrated the full completion of the Philip Goldson Highway and Remate Bypass Upgrading Project. According to the Briceño administration, the project has positively impacted the lives of approximately forty-five thousand Belizeans in the Corozal, Orange Walk, and Belize districts. The Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing is being hailed for saving fifteen million dollars on the project, while completing it before its deadline. The inauguration marks the end of a three-year, ninety-three million dollar project. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
The Remate Bypass Upgrading Project has been completed. The ninety-three-million-dollar road was officially inaugurated at a ceremony on Wednesday afternoon. Prime Minister John Briceno was present at the event.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Why is this road important? Well first of all it connects us internationally to Mexico. Secondly it is about agriculture. All the products produced in the north, now that they can use this road. But also because it connects to Mexico and we are now importing more and more into Mexico, cattle, coconut, shrimps. WE are looking at exporting other products. It plays a significant role for us to be able to compete internationally. Most importantly for the people that live in this area, San Pedro and Patchakan and the rest of the villages, these people for decades and decades have been suffering the dust and the mud and it has made their lives extremely difficult, so I am very happy for them, and I know they are very excited about it.”
PM Briceño was accompanied by six other ministers who were there to cut the ribbon, declaring the bypass officially opened. Among them was the Area Representative for Orange Walk South and the Minister of Agriculture, Jose Abelardo Mai. He spoke on the benefit of the road to the sugar industry.
Jose Abelardo Mai
Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture
“It takes us now from here to the outlet, eleven minutes. It takes me eleven minutes. If I was to go through Corozal Town, from here to there is twenty minutes. And from there to the border is another twelve fifteen minutes, so time savings. Our cane trucks leave from Patchakan with fifteen, twenty tons of sugarcane with all lights working, everything the blink, the horn the blow, when you run through that road and get on the highway and the guys in blue stop you and ask to put on your signal and it doesn’t work, and you get a ticket for that. Not to mention you know how much it cost to deliver sugarcane to Orange Walk right now, it cost thirty-one dollars from San Ramon, here it is thirty-five dollars, if they pay you sixty or seventy, half of it goes into transportation. This will significantly contribute to lowering the cost of sugarcane.”
Funding for the project came in part as a thirty-seven million dollars grant from the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund and a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank.
Therese Turner-Jones
Therese Turner-Jones, Vice President of Operations, CDB
“What I love most about this project is it epitomizes how CDB likes to work which is in partnership with some of our best partners and one of those here is the United Kingdom Commonwealth Development Office. So we are really proud to be here to be cutting the ribbon and opening this road.”
Kate Reynolds
Kate Reynolds, Acting British High Commissioner
“On behalf of the UK government I express my heartiest congratulations to the Prime Minister and his government, especially those in the MIDH and the project execution unit for their hard work to ensure this project was completed within budget and the time frame.”
Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing, Julius Espat says rural communities are close to his heart, because he is a representative of a rural area. As a result, he understood the need for this upgrade and the impact it would have on these rural communities.
Julius Espat
Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing
“Why rural, well rural communities for the last twenty years have not received any attention and they are as equal as us and any Belizeans and they deserve it and we have embarked on spending a large portion of our budget in rural communities. We share a bit last year with urban areas and we are shifting back to rural communities.”
But with the upgrade of the Remate Bypass, there is a need for increased police and traffic enforcement officers.
Julius Espat
“I am not in charge of the police, that is a different department on their own. I wish them well and I hope they do their job as efficiently as I think they well.”
Paul Lopez
“It does require more policing and the presence of traffic enforcement officers. How is that planned when these road developments are done?”
Julius Espat
“We discuss these things in Cabinet on a weekly basis. Our emphasis is to build the infrastructure and we give the other ministries advice. I really can’t go further than that.”
Prime Minister John Briceño met with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Tuesday when several issues were discussed. One of the priority topics during their meeting was the supply of power by CFE Mexico to Belize. As Belizeans are aware, the Belize Electricity Limited has had to undertake numerous load shedding exercises because CFE has indicated that it is unable to supply Belize during its peak hours. This has left many Belizeans across the country in darkness for scheduled periods. According to Prime Minister Briceño he was in Mexico on a medical trip with his wife when he reached out to the President’s office to get a phone call with him. The president’s office arranged for them to meet, and a discussion was had about what can be done to address Belize’s energy crisis. We asked PM Briceño about that meeting when we caught up with him this afternoon in Corozal.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Well first of all I went on a private visit to Mexico but I figured that when I was on my way I would try to get a hold of him and we get along very well so I was hoping to see if he can help us to stop the load shedding in Belize. But I think Mr Mencias rightly pointed out, the seed was planted ten years ago and the previous government did nothing. We have been doing something. We have managed to convince the Saudi to lend us seventy- two million dollars to do a sixty megawatt solar plant. But this us not something you say here is seventy two million dollars, nobody gives that US. There is a whole process and we have been working with them and one of the Saudi company that will be able to come in to build the first twenty. What Mr. Mencias explained to us is that the grid can’t hold sixty megawatts in one spot so we have to break it up in three twenty megawatts plant. The first one is going to be built by Bomba. We expect that will be commissioned by July August of next year. We have been working with the World Bank, borrowing about a hundred million dollars to be able to set up a battery bank. With this battery Bank there is certain times when CFE energy goes to two three cents a kilowatt, around two three o’clock in the morning when there is hardly any use for it so we could buy fortwo or three cents and store it in these battery banks and send it to the grid with the hopes of maintaining the price and hopefully with time to be able to reduce the price.”
According to Prime Minister John Briceño, a meeting is scheduled for Saturday in Cancun. There, he, along with representatives from Belize Electricity Limited, will meet with the Mexican President and CFE representatives. PM Briceño further explained that an opportunity now exists for potential investors to supply the country with energy. Here is what he told us.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“We just set up the RFP process. The RFP process 2irh that in place, it has been accepted by the PUC and BEL and also by the MCC. The millinery challenge Cooperation, they are giving us a grant of a hundred and twenty-five million dollars and of that hundred and twenty five million dollars will be invested in energy in impr9ving the technology, the grid and a part of that is going to finance the battery bank that we are talking about. Now that RFP process has been approved by Cabinet. Now anybody that has a good business plan that can show they have access to the technology and funding they can put in their bid to show they can supply energy. But what has happened over the years, we have a lot of people that come and say I want to provide x amount of energy so give me a contract. You can go anywhere with a contract. The bank is going to lend you money because it is sure money. We don’t want people that are going to speculate. With the president what I can say at this moment we had a successful meeting and what he is doing now for Belize is he is going to be in Cancun on Saturday and the President of CFE is going to be there. Every two weeks he takes a firsthand look at the work Tren Maya. He will be arranging a meeting with me and BEL to see what we can do to cut out the black outs.”
