Cabinet Secretary and Finance Minister Unable To Provide Information

The Senate Special Select Committee convened today and found that its two witnesses summoned today were reluctant to cooperate.  The session began just before ten o’clock this morning with Cabinet Secretary Stuart Leslie appearing along with Minister of State for Finance, Christopher Coye.  Both men were accompanied by their attorney, Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay.  Interestingly, the session quickly went downhill within three minutes when Leslie gave his opening statement, essentially saying that he is not at liberty to assist the committee with information.  

Stuart Leslie, Cabinet Secretary: “I am here at your invitation as the Cabinet Secretary not in my personal capacity. As this committee is aware documents and deliberations of the cabinet are strictly confidential and exempt from disclosure. As Cabinet Secretary I took an oath to uphold the laws and constitution of Belize and I intend to be faithful to that oath. I have been advised that I am not at liberty to disclose any Cabinet documents or deliberation of Cabinet to this committee or otherwise. Respectfully I am therefore not in a position to assist this committee with any evidence documents.”

Janelle Chanona, Committee Chairperson: “Thank you very much. We note your opening statement and yes once the light is on you’re live so to speak. Before we begin with Senators asking their questions would you like some water ?”

Stuart Leslie, Cabinet Secretary: “No thank you.” 

Janelle Chanona, Committee Chairperson: “Okay. Colleagues who would like to go first ? You can indicate that you’re declining to answer but the committee.”

Stuart Leslie, Cabinet Secretary: “I thought that was what my statement said. But yes I am declining to answer questions.”

Janelle Chanona, Committee Chairperson: “Yes, so it is just for you to indicate that this is the basis for your decline. We just need to get it on record that we have asked and you have answered. Go ahead Senator Herrera.”

Sen.Herrera: “Good morning Cabinet Secretary thanks for coming. I just have a few questions that perhaps you could help me understand.”

Sen.Courtenay: “Madam Chairman, I’m sorry to interrupt Senator but I’ve advised.”

Janelle Chanona, Committee Chairperson: “Again, morning Senator Courtenay I know you’re here as an attorney but again as per protocol established by the SSC only the witnesses to convey so you can indicate that legal advise is advising you not to respond but we would like to post the questions for you. Sorry can you put on your mic and then we can have you on record.”

Stuart Leslie, Cabinet Secretary: “I will not answer any questions.”

Janelle Chanona, Committee Chairperson: “Thank you.”

As Leslie and Courtenay rose to exit the room, Union Senator Glenfield Dennison, rose to ask a question but there was no response, and a break was called by Chair Janelle Chanona.  The break lasted some ten minutes, and returned with Minister of State, Chris Coye and Senior Counsel Courtenay as his legal representative.  Coye was sworn in and gave an opening statement where he spoke on how far back his knowledge of the Definitive Agreement and the project it surrounds.  In his near-5-minute address to the committee, Coye also noted that the entire inquiry and propaganda surrounding the Portico development has cost Belize significant investment.

Christopher Coye, Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “I became aware of Portico Enterprises Ltd and its plans for a new cruise port like almost everyone else through the news media several years ago when the UDP administration signed an MOU with Portico. On change of administrations, it was certainly a policy and a priority of this new government to encourage and facilitate new investment in Belize with a view to cause long-term sustainable human development particularly those investments that would bring in much needed foreign exchange and generate substantial employment. It was therefore promising to see an investment of this scale and nature being contemplated with reputable companies like Boskalis, one of the largest dredging companies in the world. This gave credibility to the Portico project. In late 2022, Portico, through its attorneys, requested that government honor the undertaking set forth in the definitive agreement signed in 2020 by the past UDP government to enact a law containing the various concessions as promised under the said agreement. I believe I received a copy of the definitive agreement in early 2023. The government sought legal opinions from both Ben Juratowich and Douglas Mendez on the validity of the agreement. Eventually a  Cabinet paper and draft bill were prepared in accordance with the legal advice. The bill was shared with the Ministry of Tourism and others and underwent numerous iterations based on comments provided. The paper and bill were presented to Cabinet in mid-May 2023 after thoroughly reviewed and edited by Senior Council Mendez in furtherance of his opinion. Cabinet did not approve the paper. Those are the facts with which I am familiar and I have no further evidence to give. As I revisit my experience over the past couple of years on this matter, it is unfortunate what has transpired. Since change of government, it became reasonably clear to me that there was serious investment interest from such parties as Boskalis and Royal Caribbean to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. With the barrage of propaganda on this project and even this inquiry, it is unclear where that level of interest now stands. From a development perspective as it relates to this project, Belize has lost. There has been no foreign investment, no capital inflow, there has been no employment generated, there has been no foreign exchange generated. There has been no economic diversification in this area. In fact, the cruise tourism product has experienced degeneration, not modernization. While overnight tourism has been performing tremendously, cruise tourist arrivals continue to fall. Unless a modern cruise port is built soon, the ships and their passengers will just pass us by.”