PM says Raul Rocha not an Investor in Belize’s Southern Port

Prime Minister John Briceño is setting the record straight about his meeting with Mexican businessman Raúl Rocha. Earlier this year, Rocha was charged for alleged involvement in drug, weapons, and fuel trafficking between Guatemala and Mexico. He’s also the president of Legacy Holdings and met with Briceño and other Belizean officials back in October 2024 to talk about possible investments in Belize. Rumors swirled that Rocha was eyeing the Southern Deep Port project, but the Prime Minister says that was never part of the discussion.

 

Reporter

“When you met with Raul Rocha, was the Southern port something that was discussed in your meeting?”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“No.”

 

Reporter

“Are you aware that the Legacy Holdings was set to be an investor in the port?”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“They’re not an investor in the port. I found that just like you when it became public that they were discussing. Legacy, as I told you, the whole reason why we met with this group is because they expressed interest in investing in Belize. And at that time, nobody knew that there was any illicit kind of involvement from the company. They just bought the Miss Universe Franchise for crying out loud. So nobody knew. And I’m sure that even the investors from the Depot and Water port in Dangriga absolutely did not know also. But from what I’m told from therein, they were in discussions I think from about April towards September, which made public and and nothing worked out. As I said, there was no fault. There’s nothing there.”

 

Reporter

“Did the Commerce by Port developer prove that they already had the fifty million for the startup capita?”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“What they did is said that they have a plan on how to be able to raise it. Obviously, part of the plan is to meet with different investors to be able to get some form of investment. So that was done through the Ministry of Ports and then came to Cabinet. We had a lengthy discussion back and forth. One of the things that we’ve promised the people in Dangriga that we were going to open that port as far back as 2006. And when we finally found something that we believe that can work, we agreed to support.”