Businessman Demands Half a Million from Belize City Council for Old Court Claim

Officials at the Belize City Council are scratching their heads after businessman Antonio Novelo sent the Mayor a letter telling him that the council owes him close to five hundred thousand dollars.  According to Novelo, the owner of the now defunct Novelo’s Bus Line, he had won court claim 496 of 2007 and is now trying to collect from the council.  In a letter dated June 13, 2024, Novelo offers no further information as to the genesis of the claim, but only made a demand for payment by June 30.  Love News understands that the council has been trying to locate any files or documents in their archives that would give them an idea of the claim made some 18 years ago.  In the letter to the Mayor, Novelo indicated that he has been trying to get a meeting with the council for some months now, but has been unsuccessful.  The amount being claimed by Novelo is four hundred fifty nine thousand, seven hundred and twenty four dollars and thirteen cents with a deadline of Sunday, June 30 to pay up.  Of note, Prime Minister John Briceno was copied in the letter.  Late this evening, the council issued a statement saying, quote, “The Council has since instructed legal counsel to research the matter at the High Court as it was unaware of this supposed judgment in favor of Mr. Novelo or his entity – Novelo’s Bus Line Limited (In Receivership). To date, the Council has been unable to find any record of this judgment and notwithstanding requests made by legal counsel to Mr. Novelo, this judgment has not been produced. Once the Council, being a responsible municipality, is satisfied that a debt does in fact exists, which is not subject to any right to collection by a Receiver or otherwise, payments will be made accordingly.”  End of quote.////