Benque Viejo Man says Lands Department Gave Away His Niece’s Land

In the days leading up to the elections, land grabs are being reported everywhere. Benque Viejo resident Miguel Balona says that his niece’s private property was taken away from her and given to another owner by the Lands Department. Balona says that he found out while he was carrying out maintenance on the land. He was approached by a person who questioned why he was on the land. The person produced a title he received four years ago but Balona says that his title dates back to 2009. Balona says that the government is doing his family an injustice and plans to take the matter before the courts.

Miguel Balona, Benque Viejo Resident

“And now that I noticed the land is sold. And it is sold to an ageable man like myself and the person told me that he has his title.”

Reporter

“How did you find out that the land was sold?”

Miguel Balona

Miguel Balona

“I was cleaning the land when the person reached there and he asked me how I can clean that land, that land belongs to him. I told him that my niece has the papers that is property, it is property, the title. So I decided to come to Belmopan and bring the papers and they told me that I have the original title but the next man how the title has change he has one page as the title. This is the whole title that has three pages? He showed me and he told me that this title is from 2016 and this title here is from 2009. So my niece called me and told me that she will wait until this coronavirus pass and she will be here in Belize and we will try go to the Supreme Court with a lawyer to fight this case because she will not left this two piece of land. My point it how can they sell a piece of land and they know who is the owner. I am not mad with anybody. I am not mad with any politician but for the people see that they don’t have love for Belizeans that live abroad, that live in the US.”