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  Riots in Belize(Infoshop, Agencies, April-May 2005) A Miami federal judgerules against Belize A Miami federal judge repeated her contempt- of-court ruling against the government of Belize. The Central American nation's telecommunications company hangs in the balance. Removing uncertainty about a previous ruling, a Miami federal judge on Monday again found the Belizean government in contempt of court in a dispute over the country's main telecommunications company. The decision paves the way for $1.6 million of the tiny nation's U.S. assets to be seized. The fight for control of Belize Telecommunication Ltd. has touched off unrest in the Central American country of 250,000 and put U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro-Benages in the unusual position of fining a sovereign government. Neither of the lawyers in the case can recall a case where a U.S. judge held a foreign nation in contempt. In February the Belizean government seized control of Belize Telecommunication after West Palm Beach-based Innovative Communication Corp., which had purchased a controlling stake in the phone company but still owed $57 million to the government, failed to make a debt payment. ICC, owned by Palm Beach businessman Jeffrey Prosser, subsequently sued the Belizean government in U.S. District Court in an effort to retain control of the company. The judge previously ordered that control of the Belizean phone company be returned to ICC, an order the Belizean government refused to obey. In a compromise, the parties agreed an evenly split reconstituted Belize Telecommunication board would be sufficient pending a trial set to start May 29 over who controls the Central American phone company. Ungaro-Benages ruled Monday that the government of Belize failed to comply with that agreement. The court is imposing $50,000-a-day fine until the board meets, a sum now up to $1.6 million and counting. As a result of the ruling, ICC lawyer Lanny Davis said he will ask the court today to begin collecting the fines from government of Belize deposits in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. (Miami Herald, May 3, 2005) |
Labor dispute flares in Belize A labor dispute with workers for Belize Telecommunications Limited over ownership shares of the national phone system flared into clashes with police in Belize City and resulted in sabotage of phone lines that cut all telephone, fax and Internet service for three days. ATMs were shut down, and the borders with Mexico and Guatemala were closed temporarily. The unrest spread from union workers to students and opposition politicians calling for the government to step down. Further unrest is possible. (Plain Dealer, April 30, 2005) A labor dispute with workers overownership shares of the national phone system A labor dispute with workers for Belize Telecommunications Limited over ownership shares of the national phone system flared into clashes with police in Belize City and resulted in sabotage of phone lines that cut all telephone, fax and internet service for three days. ATMs were shut down, and the borders with Mexico and Guatemala were temporarily closed. (Chicago Tribune, May 1, 2005) CARICOM Concerned over Situation in Belize The Bureau of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has voiced deep concern over the worsening situation in Belize. What started as an industrial dispute between the government and workers at the state-run Belize Telecommunications Limited (BTL) over acquisition of shares has become a civil unrest. The situation flew out of control when public service unions called their members to the streets demanding the resignation of the Said Musa government. At least one person has died and more than 100 people have been arrested since the demonstrations started in Belize City a week ago. The government deployed the army and police while protesters looted shops and gas stations and interrupted communications, electricity and international banking services. (Prensa Latina, May 2, 2005) Army on Belize's streetsafter riots, one dead More than 100 people have been arrested since demonstrations broke out in Belize City last week at the government's handling of the sale of the state-run Belize Telecommunications Limited, or BTL, phone company. (Reuters AlterNet, April 22, 2005) |