How Did Grand Belizean Estates Acquire Prime Land in San Pedro?

Manuel Heredia Jr.

How did San Pedro developers Grand Belizean Estates get a hold of land conservatively worth at least four million dollars for only three hundred and fifty thousand dollars? And where does Minister Manuel Heredia Junior fit into the mix? The story goes back to 2011 when directors of San Pedro Junior College approached Heredia Junior for assistance to construct a school building. One year after, the School had their building, worth three hundred thousand dollars, while Grand Belizean Estates had fifty acres of land worth millions. Today we got an explanation from Heredia Junior himself, via phone.

On the Phone: Manuel Heredia Jr., Minister of Tourism

“I approached Cabinet about the situation and at the time they told me that government didn’t have the cash or the finances to do the three hundred and fifty thousand dollar Junior College that Maestro Angel wanted to do. They told me that if I could find another way the Cabinet is willing to help and they believe the need is there. I did my research and beside land that the previous administration had sold to some friends, there was fifty acres that they didn’t manage to do the final transaction, so it was still G.O.B. land. So I approached Grand Belize who had bought the hundred acres from these two particular persons and said look…we need three hundred and fifty thousand. They said but we only paid two hundred and fifty, two hundred and seventy five thousand for the other two parcels. I said man but this is a high school they need three hundred and fifty, and they agreed. So the land was transferred to San Pedro High, and I was able to get the three hundred and fifty thousand dollars to have them agree, and the transaction was done between Grand Belize and San Pedro Junior College, or San Pedro High because the land is vested under San Pedro High. They did all the transaction. All that government did was to facilitate the transfer of land from San Pedro High School to Grand Belizean Estate and the money was paid to San Pedro High School, not to Manuel Heredia, not to G.O.B. but directly to San Pedro High School.”