G.O.B. versus BGYEA – case is back before the court

This morning it was the B.T.I.A. versus G.O.B., and this afternoon it was G.O.B. versus BGYEA. An action has been taken against the grassroots organization for trespassing in the buffer zone at Harmonyville where the organization was attempting the planting of corn. Justice Courtney Abel heard the matter in chambers, since it was more about administrative matters and housecleaning than a substantive hearing. This afternoon attorney Audrey Matura-Shepherd told News Five that this matter likely won’t be resolved anytime soon.

Audrey Matura-Shepherd, Attorney for BGYEA

Audrey Matura-Shepherd

“The government has sought three main things: a declaration that they are the owners of the land that they call the buffer zone, a declaration that my clients don’t have the right to be on said land and also they are bringing a case of trespass; they are saying the Mister Petillo and Mister Sam Patton trespassed on the land. But the irony of it is that they are saying that Mister Petillo trespassed but through BGYEA and BGYEA is an association which in law has its own provisions whether they can be sued or sue. So it will be interesting what the legal arguments will be. So that is what the government is seeking. Now our part is to show that those declarations that the government is seeking are not right, should not be granted and also to dispute the issue of trespass. I am yet to sit down with my clients and go through all the details as to all the evidence that we have, but we needed to come today for the first part to know the dates so that we know when to proceed, but we do not see this case concluding like shortly. The court goes on recess in August and most likely the court date after our July court date would be in September.”

Nigel Petillo

Nigel Petillo, President, BGYEA

“We want people to understand the importance and the reason for us planting corn. The idea is to build our community. We see that piece of land as a piece of land that could be utilized for the betterment of our community. So for our government to be treating us this way when we di drive around other parts of this country and other parts of the highway seeing the very thing that we are trying to do being done right now, yo question the intent behind it. However, we decided that we want to do it the right way; we see ourselves as a responsible organization and with the guidance of our attorney, we are going to take the right steps. Again, personally, I feel confident about this; I believe that when all this is over and done with and we are given the full rightful possession of our land, then we will be able to plant as much corn as we want and whatever else after that. Again, I want to repeat to the Belizean public and our members especially is that the idea here is to build our roads and build our community. The government has said to us over and over, they don’t intend to build infrastructure for us, roads for us, anything. And so we had come up with ideas to do for ourselves and that’s what the situation is here. They are fighting us because we are thinking about doing for self.”

The matter returns to court on July twenty-eighth. Matura-Shepherd says that while they are dealing with government’s claim on her clients, at some point they will have to deal with her clients’ claim on government.