Land issue brewing in La Gracia

Armando Arevalo

There is a land issue brewing in western Belize.  Over twenty farmers in La Gracia claim that surveyors have initiated works on their land.  The farmers say that majority of them have lease titles and have worked on the land for more than twenty-five years.  The farmers are concerned that they will lose the land they have been developing for years.  They are now calling on government to intervene, as they say that the surveyors have claimed to be doing G.O.B.’s work. Here’s what one farmer has to say about what’s happening in the village.

Armando Arevalo, La Gracia Farmer [Translated]

“There were these men, who appear to be surveyors, who were going about measuring and surveying. They said that they had to survey five hundred acres as it relates to La Gracia, in an area called Young Gial. So, they said that they won’t stop surveying because they are out here doing work for the Government and they will successfully complete it. We need for the law to do something because more serious things might happen.”

Reporter

“And did they go on your property?”

Armando Arevalo

“Yes, they entered my property. They were there. And the truth is they said that they came with an order. They didn’t say anything else other than that and they didn’t say who exactly sent them. They only said they were sent by Government and that’s it.”