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Government assumes control of Commerce Bight Port

By on August 16, 2013

The government of Belize has revoked the lease granted to Port of Belize Limited to operate and manage the Commerce Bight Port.

This means that GOB is now in control of that port facility.

The order revoking the lease was signed on Thursday by the Honorable the Minister of Works and Transport, Mr. Rene Montero under whose portfolio responsibility for Ports falls.

A government statement explains the reason for the revocation as the breach three terms and conditions of the agreement. 

These include failing to submit a development plan or carry out development works; failure to operate and manage the port or carrying out the necessary dredging of the approach channel and the dock basis and failing to pay the lease rental tot he Government of Belize.

The government had tried to revoke the lease for Port of Belize back in March, 2008; but the Port of Belize Limited sought and got an injunction in the Supreme Court barring the Minister from cancelling the lease. 

When the injunction was lifted on July 20, 2012, it cleared the way for the revocation of the lease and the government of Belize on Thursday of this week, took immediate possession of the Commerce Bight Port. 

The government statement notes that GOB will now be “aggressively seeking international funding to upgrade the Commerce Bight Port to international standards.”

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