U.D.P. Standard Bearer Ivan Williams Says Santa Cruz Has No Lots Committee
U.D.P. standard bearer for Stann Creek West, Ivan Williams, says that he will travel to Belmopan and lobby for the residents of Santa Cruz in order for them to receive their lands under legal circumstances. Williams held a meeting on Tuesday evening with residents who are part of the village’s expansion project. Chaos erupted on Sunday during a meeting called by the village’s chairman Christopher Budna who had appointed a Land and Lot Committee to oversee the project. Budna accused Williams of political interference and attempting to take control of the project for political means. Williams denies this allegation saying that he is only looking after the best interests of the villagers. Williams says that the so-called Land and Lots Committee is not legally established.
On the Phone: Ivan Williams, U.D.P. Standard Bearer, Stann Creek West
“One of the challenges that we discussed is the sketch plan. That map that the group in Santa Cruz is showing is only a sketch plan. It is something that is used as at primarily stage in the application for land that does not give you license to go on a land. It is only a sketch. So when anybody proceeds to do things on a basis of only a sketch that is illegal. So we have a challenge there because in Santa Cruz that is what has happened. Certain people have allowed people to go on land on the basis of a sketch and GPS reading. Then the issue is who advises in terms of getting land is the prerogative of the Ministers of Lands. He decides whether he will appoint any land or lot committee or whether he only wants advice or none at all. In order words if you say that you have a land and lot committee you need to have some approval or some system where you are recognized by the Minister responsible for lands and under the Lands Act. We don’t see any evidence of that even though certain groups were there, there is no evidence that they were formally recognized particularly by the current government, current minister. Going and putting down markers without first obtaining permission is also a criminal and illegal activity that was done by the group. Furthermore, collecting moneys and giving out little receipts without having a proper system of a bank account, treasurer, because you could like to have the village council to say they are trying to raise money to pay for the expenses of surveying and so on. But when you issue receipt by a person who is not a treasure, who is a so called project manager. I don’t know who appointed him. He goes out and gives receipts. This is what is happening to this country which is wrong and people get shorted down the road. Those are some of the challenges that I brought to the attention of the public and of course I had to tell what is the legal procedure, how it should have been done and also went in and told them how we are going to address the way forward.”
