NATCHEZ —The trial to decide a suit against biofuel developer John Rivera, originally scheduled for May 7, has been postponed.

The postponement is due to a request from the president of Guatemala, Julio Gammarra.

Rivera — who first brought his claims of a self-named process that could turn biological matter into oil to the Miss-Lou in 2006 — has reportedly been called to meet with the Guatemalan Parliament later this month and will not be present for the trial.

A motion for continuance was granted earlier this week.

Exhibit A, of the continuance is a letter from Gammarra confirming a meeting between Rivera and the Guatemalan Parliament.

Rick Bass, representing plaintiff Mark Trevisiol, said the case will likely be continued in August.

While Claude Pintard, Rivera’s attorney could not be reached for comment, Bass said he believed Rivera’s call to Central America was business related.

Nearly one year ago a judge denied a motion to dismiss a suit against Rivera filed by Noront Recycling.

Attorney Rick Bass said his client, Mark Trevisiol, developed Noront Recycling as a means to help Rivera start a biofuels development company.

Bass said since the company’s development, Trevisiol, has been excluded from profits from the company.

Trevisiol has also been denied other benefits from the terms of his agreement with Rivera, Bass said.

“He just wants the benefit of their bargain,” Bass said.

While no specific dates have been set aside in August to continue the trial, Bass said they should be determined shortly.

Rivera’s company, U.S. Sustainable Energy Corp., bought a warehouse near the county port in December 2006. The company would eventually make 1.5 million gallons of biofuel a day, Rivera said at the time.