Pretrial date set for case of Pickwoad land claim
Bernard Pickwoad
The Pickwoad family, along with attorney Audrey Matura-Shepherd, was back in court today, where a land dispute involving a parcel situated at the corners of Chetumal Street and Albert Hoy Avenue will be heard before Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin. In December 2013, it was discovered that the property belonging to Bernadette Pickwoad has been assigned to Maude Williams, the mother of former C.E.O. in the Ministry of Natural Resources Beverly Castillo. Construction had already began on the plot when an injunction was filed against the new owners. While a date for the substantial matter is yet to be set, a pretrial date is scheduled for July seventeenth. This afternoon, News Five spoke with Bernard Pickwoad, the custodian of his sister’s affairs in Belize.
Bernard Pickwoad, Brother of Bernadette Pickwoad
“We’ve been back and forth in the courts, a lot of it has been arguments on technical issues. Today we were able to make a little headway in that the judge set a pretrial date for July seventeenth and then at that time we expect that a date will be set for the trial at which time I hope, I am still very hopeful that justice will be served and that we will get back ownership of our property.”
Isani Cayetano
“What has transpired since then in terms of your sister, who is the rightful owner of the property? Have you been in contact with her with regards to what’s been taking place?”
Bernard Pickwoad
“Yes, we’ve been in constant contact. She relies on me to represent her interest here. It is very costly for her to travel back and forth, she will be here for the trial but for this part of it where we are ironing out the technicalities she has asked me to represent her and I am more than willing to do so.”
Isani Cayetano
“Is there anything else you would want to mention with regards to either learning how the system works, seeing as though this may be one of the few instances where you’re seeing how the justice systems rolls, so to speak?”
Bernard Pickwoad
“It is very interesting, it is a learning experience for me. I know from listening to the news and reading [articles] in the media that many times sometimes cases are lost on technicalities. I still believe finally, that the justice system here is limited by laws. The justice of God is not so limited.”
The Williams/Castillo family is being represented by attorney Vanessa Retreage.
It is becoming notice world wide that some of the police officers in the country of Belize are among some of the worst in the world and this statement is without prejudice, and the country on a whole needs to take serious notice, there are so many dedicated and decent officers, who have sworn to serve and to protect the people of that beautiful and once peaceful country, but more and more there are some in the midst of this proud department ,are abusing the laws of the police department with their thug like attitudes towards the people of Belize, recently the officer who beats up on the husband of a citizen and allegedly told him that he wanted to F.. him up, and on top of it trying to frame the husband, and apparently is being shielded by fellow officers, and this is only a tip of the corruptions going on , who is in charge of these beast, we should not allow a few thugs who wear the uniform of our respectful police department, to continue their thuggish ways and to hide behind the uniform. there is one question , who is in charge of these men?