1 month ago
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The matter of legal fees being charged by Senator Glenfield Dennison to Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) has taken a new turn after the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) confirmed that Dennison Consulting Limited is not registered with the FIU. Further information to Love News also indicates that the limited is neither registered with the General Sales Tax. Senator Dennison is charging BTL over 183 thousand dollars for legal services purportedly rendered to the Belize Communication Workers for Justice reference outstanding severance payments. A letter dated March 16 from the FIU, addressed to BTL’s internal legal counsel, T. Kileru Awich, the director noted that under Section 85B of the Money Laundering and Terrorism (Prevention) Act, lawyers who carry out certain financial or transactional services for clients may be required to register with the FIU as a Designated Non-Financial Business and Profession (DNFBP). The agency noted that after reviewing its registry, it found no record of Dennison Consulting Limited being registered. The FIU’s response came after BTL had sought clarification on the matter after receiving an invoice totaling $183,487.50 submitted by Senator Dennison for services related to negotiations between BTL and the Belize Communications Workers for Justice (BCWJ). Love News first reported on February 27 that BTL had rejected the invoice, which was dated February 24, and addressed to the company’s legal counsel. The billing outlined several categories of legal work allegedly performed in connection with negotiations between BTL and the BCWJ. According to the document, Dennison charged $900 per hour for a number of services, including legal advice, strategic consultation, drafting legal opinions, and research. The breakdown included 61 hours for consultation totaling $54,900, 73 hours for drafting legal analysis amounting to $65,700, and 42 hours of legal research valued at $37,800. A further 47 hours of legal assistant support at $100 per hour added $4,700, bringing the subtotal to $163,100, and $183,487.50 after GST. BTL has reportedly pushed back strongly against the invoice, describing both the hourly rate and the number of hours claimed as disproportionate and exaggerated. Company officials have pointed out that the matter had not proceeded to court and that the Caribbean Court of Justice ruling in the broader dispute did not order BTL to cover legal costs. The company has also questioned the $900 hourly rate, arguing that it is unusually high for a relatively junior attorney with fewer than five years of post-qualification experience. BTL maintains that senior counsel in Belize typically charge between $1,000 and $1,300 per hour, while the company reportedly pays another junior attorney with greater experience around $500 per hour for active court matters. Despite the company’s rejection of the bill, individuals aligned with the BCWJ have argued that Dennison provided legal representation during negotiations and should therefore be compensated for his work. With the FIU now confirming that Dennison Consulting Limited is not registered as a DNFBP, the issue has added another layer of scrutiny to what has already become a contentious dispute between the telecommunications company and the workers’ advocacy group. Love News will continue to follow developments in this matter.
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