Land Issue heats up in La Gracia; farmers claim political victimization
If you’ll recall, last week we reported that a land issue was brewing in a small farming community located behind Spanish Lookout, Cayo District. Well, that issue is heating up; so much so that early this morning, officers of the Belize Police Department, carrying big guns, descended on La Gracia Village. They were there to offer support and protection to surveyors who are doing work on a parcel of land. The problem is that farmers claim to have lease titles for some of the land, while others have been developing it for fifteen to twenty years with the hope to get titles. Reporter Andrea Polanco went to La Gracia today to find out what’s been happening. Here’s the story.
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
Twenty-five farmers say that their land is being taken away. They say that they stand to lose 1,500 acres if surveyors get their way. It’s all happening in La Gracia Village, Cayo District. This is the scene this morning- as surveyors, accompanied by armed law enforcement officers, try to access these farm lands. Farmers with machetes, accompanied by women and children, confronted the team.
Hugo Ruano, Resident, La Gracia
Hugo Ruano
“Early in the morning, about six-thirty in the morning, we had some officials along with the surveyors. We went to ask them to please evacuate the area. They were well armed. They had firearms with them. We had all these villagers here with us and thank God they left. But I am pretty sure they will return with more force.”
Andrea Polanco
“So, the surveyors were accompanied by members of the Belize Police Department?”
Hugo Ruano
“That’s right.”
The surveyors and the armed officers left without incident. This issue started last week and since then the farmers have been trying to find out who ordered the survey.
Hugo Ruano
“Well, apparently they say that they have permits to survey the land but it is something that has not been shown to us. We have asked them about showing us the permit and they have rejected us. So, we don’t really know who is surveying the land. Our Chairman already visited the lands department and apparently a permit has not been given to anyone to come and survey the land. So, that is why we are really upset because if no one is issuing permits then why are they coming in and survey.”
Some of the farmers have lease hold titles. At least one farmer claims to have invested forty-five thousand dollars to develop the land. Others say they have been working on the land and trying to acquire it for years but they have been unable to do so because they can’t get a recommendation their area representative.
Hugo Ruano
“Some of them do not have any land titles and documents because everything has changed political. If you support this party, you need the signature of your area representative to apply for that; something that has been denied to us. So, they have made many attempts to legalize their land but unfortunately there is no way. Some of them do have documents and the surveyors are within those lands that have been leased already. So, it is not only within the areas that don’t have any lease. Right now we have the surveyors going on to the properties that are already leased.”
So, who is doing this to the farmers and why? They, allege that it is political victimization coming directly from their area rep Rene Montero. They claim that this piece of paper was being given out days before village council elections to encourage farmers to vote for UDP candidates in exchange for land titles. They say the problem goes back years and Montero hasn’t helped out.
Hugo Ruano
“We have been asking that assistance for the past eleven years and nothing has been done. We have been neglected. Basic services have not been given to us. There is no support for the farmers. So for the past eleven – twelve years we have been left on our own. We just had village council elections and he lost here in La Gracia and we think this is the feedback. This is what we are getting. He is taking away our lands because obviously people didn’t support him.”
Andrea Polanco
“So, you feel he is victimizing you guys; it’s political victimization here in the village?”
Hugo Ruano
“Yeah. I think that there is is no other way you can describe that. We have known him for the past eight to ten years and it’s not something new that he is doing.”
And now these farmers are worried that their livelihood is being threatened. La Gracia is a farming community behind Spanish Lookout. It is home to about forty-five families. Large quantities of the Belize’s fresh fruits and vegetables are produced here. The village is one of the country’s biggest potato producer. They sell their produce at markets in San Ignacio, Belize City and Belmopan. Now, these farmers say they need the government to intervene to find a solution to this problem.
Hugo Ruano
“Most people here, I would say everyone, ninety five percent at least, and farming is the only income that they have. So, taking away their land would mean that there is nowhere else to plant and that would have a very negative impact on the kids. They are the future and there will be no land for them to farm. So, if they are not supporting us, at least give us the land to farm. There has been no support from the government especially for rural communities. There is no support and yet they are taking away the only piece of land available for us to farm.”
Andrea Polanco reporting for News Five.
Today we tried to reach Minister Rene Montero for comment, but were told that he and his secretary were in a meeting. We left a message and will continue to follow the story.
