Island resident complains of unfair land distribution
Ruby Rosado
Village council elections have concluded across the country following an entirely politicized process in which voters were made a number of promises by its respective candidates. In Caye Caulker, residents were made the proverbial offer of land in return for their votes. And instead of receiving their prescribed parcels, locals on the island are tonight up in arms over what they say is unfair land distribution. In response to the inequitable sharing of crown land on La Isla Carinosa, villagers launched a petition to collect as many signatures in order to record their discontent with the lots committee, whom they say is chiefly responsible for perpetuating the empty promises. The lots, according to Ruby Rosado, are now being given to cronies, undeserving villagers and foreigners.
Ruby Rosado, Caye Caulker Resident
“This has been happening for quite some time now and nobody ever did anything about it. Under this present administration, they have been issuing land in Caye Caulker to undeserving people that are not even from Caye Caulker—people living in Belize that have not even lived in Caye Caulker for a week; they have been getting lands and it is unfair to the villagers, very unfair.”
Isani Cayetano
“Is there a specific requirement or criteria that is being sought with regards to entitlement or acquisition of land?”
Ruby Rosado
“Well the first one was you have to be a party supporter, you have to be eighteen years. Majority of the people—oh you had to be registered in Caye Caulker—and that is not so. People got land that are not even from there, not even registered there, but they are party supporters and apparently that’s what counted.”
Isani Cayetano
“How does this change with regards to the recent village council elections? What is the dynamic therein?”
Ruby Rosado
“Well right now, I guess we will have to speak to the present village council and see what we will do about it because it was the present village council that was there. And since the sixteenth of June, the village council has changed. So I guess we will have to sit down with them and see what will happen then.”
Isani Cayetano
“Take us back to the exact contention here. I know that the land distribution is the concern, but tell us why you believe that this is being done unfairly?”
Ruby Rosado
“It is being done unfairly because Caye Caulker is a small village, everybody knows everybody…and we know who are from there and who are not. And there are so many people that applied—that are born citizens of Caye Caulker that didn’t get—they applied and were turned down. And the other people that are not from there, they got.”
Earlier today, News Five tried contacting the newly elected village chairman for comment; however, our attempts were futile.
