Is Minister of State Squatting on Land in Santa Marta?

Edmond Castro

What’s the connection between Minister of State Edmond Castro and Santa Marta in the Orange Walk District? Well, you would think none, but you would be wrong. Earlier this week Castro was battered by the media who were asking him if he was squatting on privately owned land in Santa Marta. Government, as well as viewers will certainly know after the Holy Emmanuel mess,  that officially there is a zero tolerance policy on squatting. So anyway, there we were in Santa Marta doing a story on squatting when we came across a parcel of land being illegally cultivated in the middle of privately owned land. You’ll never guess who’s claiming that land, or maybe you already have. For context we revisit Castro’s comments from Wednesday.

Mike Rudon Reporting

“ Do you or do you not have lands right now cultivated with sugar cane in Santa Marta?”

Edmond Castro – Area Representative, Belize Rural North

“I have some cane in Santa Marta.”

Reporter

”And do you own the land that the cane is currently on?”

Edmond Castro 

“My friend, the cane that I have in Santa Marta, is cane I bought from people that had that cane there in Santa Marta.”

Reporter 

“Sir, you just told us that you cultivate cane in that area.”

Edmond Castro 

“I said we have cane that I had bought from some people in Santa Marta, yes.”

Reporter

“But you just said you cultivate cane in the area and therefore because you don’t own the land, you’re squatting which is illegal and this gentleman says you should be held at a higher standard as a minister, as an area representative.”

Edmond Castro 

“My friend, I don’t know what Emerson Burke is talking about. Emerson Burke will have to come and show me what land he is talking about. I do have some cane that I had bought from some people in Santa Marta. I don’t own no land in Santa Marta.”

Reporter

”So you don’t cultivate either, you buy?”

Edmond Castro 

“I had some cane that I had bought some people in Santa Marta.  I do not own any private land in Santa Marta, however I do have cane. I have been in the cane business ever since I was about 10 or 12 years old.”

Reporter

“ there was an interview with Mr. Castro and he was saying that he buys land, or they were saying that he buys land from the thirteen farmers to deliver to BSI…are you familiar with that situation?”

Patricio Acuna – Chairman, Santa Marta Village

Patricio Acuna

“Yes. I know that Castro, Clear the Land is the one that has fifteen acres here inside of this portion of land, and he is delivering cane to the factory. As far as I know he has a license to deliver cane. That’s what I know. What amount of tonnage he has, I don’t know, but he is a cane-farmer and a member of the Association too.”

Reporter

“Are you aware of how long he has been a cane-farmer?”

Patricio Acuna – Chairman, Santa Marta Village

“Only one year. This is the first time that he is delivering cane”.

Reporter

“In terms of the cane….you said he owns that piece of land, because they were saying that the farmers are on the land and he just buys the cane from the farmers. But you are certain as the Chairman of the Village that he has bought that piece of land, fifteen acres.”

Patricio Acuna – chairman, Santa Marta Village

“Yes. He bought it from Arturo Lopez. He bought that amount of land from that man, and he is the owner.”

News Five has confirmed that this is indeed the first year that Minister of State Edmund Castro is delivering cane, as part of the San Estevan Branch. He is using a quota of eight hundred and seventy three tons which is under the name of an Orange Walk resident.