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No lawsuit yet from Tourism Director Bevans

HeadlineNo lawsuit yet from Tourism Director Bevans

BELIZE CITY, Tues. Jan. 12, 2021– As previously reported, a lawsuit might be brought against Prime Minister John Briceño by the Director of Tourism at the Belize Tourism Board, Karen Bevans, who is accusing him of defamation. The remarks which Bevans considers defamatory were allegedly made by the Prime Minister while he was commenting on the Director of Tourism’s contract in an interview with Love FM in December.

On December 2, 2020, former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, in response to the statements made by Hon. Briceño, issued a letter of complaint to Hon. Briceño as well as to Love Radio and TV on Bevans’ behalf as her attorney in the matter. The letter made clear Bevans’ intent to seek damages for the remarks during the interview which “injured her reputation and feelings”. Bevans is also seeking a retraction of the Prime Minister’s statements and an apology which, Barrow had said, if not received, would force Bevans to take the matter to court two weeks from December 2nd.

Prior to last week, Prime Minister Briceño had not issued a public response to Bevans’ letter; however, after the House of Representatives meeting held on Friday, he made these remarks when questioned about the matter:

“If Mrs. Bevans wants to sue me, that’s her right, as a Belizean citizen. I stand by what I said. I don’t think she wants to go to court because when we set up all the evidence of what has happened during her time, it’s not going to be a pretty picture. And so I would hope that she decides not to go to court. But if she wants to go to court that’s her right, and I support that… She remains the Director of the BTB with her two hundred and fifty thousand dollars contract – over a million dollars she is going to collect at a time when one of the first things she did in April was fire half of her staff because she wanted to save money. So I don’t think she wants us to go down that road.”

Mrs. Bevans’ contract referred to by the Prime Minister was renewed at the beginning of 2019 for five years, despite the impending general elections which would occur on November 11, 2020. A detailed breakdown of her contract shows that Bevans is being awarded an annual salary of $173,250, which, according to clause 3.1.3, shall be reviewed by the BTB every year on the anniversary of its commencement. Thereafter, a salary increase of 5% and 10% may be awarded based on the Director’s performance. Mrs. Bevans is also entitled to a 25% bonus ($43,312) at the end of each fiscal year based on her performance.

According to clause 3.2.1 of the contract, Bevans enjoys a monthly stipend of $1,000 for telephone and internet expenses and $2,000 for housing. Additionally, it is stated in her contract that the BTB must provide “a suitable motor vehicle for exclusive use by the Director. The BTB assumes the responsibility for payment of gasoline, maintenance repairs and cleaning”. The real issue for the BTB (and the government) that may arise from any future termination of Bevans comes from clause 7.1.1, which states: “if the BTB terminates this contract of employment without cause before the expiration of the full-term of this contract, the BTB shall be liable for, and shall pay to the Director upon termination, the sums equal to all salaries and all other remuneration, and confer on the Director all other benefits, that would have been due to the Director for the full remaining term of this contract.”

The BTB would be embroiled in legal battles and would stand to lose an enormous sum in damages if a court were to find, in the event of the cancellation of her contract, that Director Bevans was terminated without cause before the contract expired. The contract is reviewed and renewed each year provided that Bevans is found to be in good standing with the BTB. Whether or not she will step down from her post or file the defamation suit against Prime Minister Briceño is unclear.

Prior to Director Bevans’ employment at the BTB, she held the post of Chief Operations Officer at Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL). In 2014 she made the move from the telecommunications industry to tourism, and at the time, Anwar Barrow, the son of her current legal representative, Rt. Hon. Dean Oliver Barrow, was given the CEO position at BTL.

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