Las Flores Residents Reject Plan to Settle Land Dispute

A land dispute involving the Belmopan City Council, St. Michael Roman Catholic Primary School and residents of Las Flores has taken an unexpected turn, as members of the community have rejected an agreement that was struck between Mayor Khalid Belisle and Father Jordan Gongora of the Belmopan Catholic Mission.  Late Monday evening, City Hall announced that the priest, following a meeting with the mayor, had accepted a proposal for two parcels of land for the future expansion of the primary school.  Likewise, as vice chair of the Recondev Board, Mayor Belisle would seek to have a title granted for the parcel on which the school is presently situated.  The cherry on top would have been the landscaping of all school lands.  But tonight, residents of Las Flores are saying no to the idea of exchanging two one-acre parcels next to the school for the softball and futsal fields, since they were never consulted.  In a letter released today, the Las Flores Steering Committee states that the agreement flies in the face of what the community requested at a recent meeting.  Furthermore, the community maintains that the parcels sold to Amy Chen must be returned to the school and should not be exchanged for the recreational spaces used by youths in that area since the establishment of Las Flores.  News Five spoke with Mayor Belisle earlier and he informed that a meeting will be held on Wednesday evening to discuss the matter with a view to resolve the issue.