P.M. Says Lord Ashcroft Can Take His Money Elsewhere

On Tuesday, during an appearance on Open Your Eyes, businessman and investor Michael Ashcroft announced that he’s moving his investment finances elsewhere. Ashcroft criticized the Government of Belize for not fostering a climate conducive to foreign investment, expressing regret that he couldn’t do more for Belize. When we asked Prime Minister Briceño for his response to Ashcroft’s criticism, he said that it’s his decision, his money, he can do whatever he wants with it.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Michael Ashcroft has done very well in Belize, exceedingly well. If he wants to take his money elsewhere, he should take it. It doesn’t bother us one bit. Foreign investment in Belize continues to increase. In 2024, we have a record foreign investment. It is his decision, his money, he can do what he wants with it. I don’t know what climate he talks about. If we want a climate where we bend over and give him what he wants, that is not going to happen in Belize. We got into government, we met with him and negotiated with him hard. I think we got a good deal with the settlement. It is unfortunate that then P.M Barrow chose the route of litigation, cost us hundreds of millions of dollars. I think that I come from a business background, and you are negotiating to settle. The port was going nowhere because he was not getting clearance from NEAC. Then he wanted to beat us into submission and took out endless ads. But that still did not beat us into submission. We are a sovereign nation, and we decide what is in the best interest. Now he wants to take his money elsewhere he is welcome to do so. He wants to sell out the Belize Bank, he is welcome to do so. I think Belizeans will be happy. Because he has been use to getting what he wants and that is ok. Every businessman or woman wants to get what they want. We welcome his investments. If he wants to continue investing in Belize, we welcome it, but it has to be under our conditions and what we believe is in the interest of Belize. When you see the deals he signed with previous government, I remember telling them him, I don’t know what these people were thinking, I would have never signed those agreements.”