Land Approvals at Rock Bottom Prices Days before the Elections
Since Wednesday, a number of documents purported to be land approval forms have surfaced on social media. Those documents show that over thirty acres of land were approved just days before the general elections. The prices for what are deemed prime lands and the persons behind the land deals are raising eyebrows. According to some documents shared online, three companies Blades Construction, VRK Construction Limited and C.A. Technologies BZ Limited are all registered to the same location in Corozal Town. Blades Construction received approval for over fourteen thousand acres for a little over twenty-two thousand dollars. The same Blades Construction also got approval for an additional one point two-eight-eight acres, also in Belize City, for five thousand dollars. The second company, called VRK Construction, got approval to buy eleven point three acres for a little less than fifteen thousand dollars. C.A Technologies was also approved sale of seven thousand acres for roughly nine thousand dollars. We note that the principal behind Blades Construction is Roosevelt Blades who was the UNESCO representative under the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. Blades is a personal friend and campaign manager of the Leader of Opposition Patrick Faber. Today, Mayor Bernard Wagner weighed in on the matter and says that he will certainly dig into these transactions.
Bernard Wagner
Bernard Wagner, Belize City Mayor
“I saw the news clips and like yourself I am still trying to put everything together because my last discussion with people in the previous government was that there was no land in Belize. When I requested help for the residents living in the Krooman Lagoon so we could relocate those residents living over the lagoon, living over the water catchment causing severe damage to the environment. I was told point blank that there are no lands in Belize City, Mayor, and we may have to look outside and that is where the conversation ends.”
Reporter
“Have you been able to do any kind of research on where these twenty-five acres are?”
Bernard Wagner
“From the best of my knowledge that I gather they are in the same Belama Phase Five area – from what I gathered, I am not certain. But, as the mayor of the city and we have residents living in poor conditions we want these lands distributed equitably to benefit the people.”
Reporter
“So, this is something that you will explore further?”
Bernard Wagner
“Certainly will and with the help of the Central Government, we want to be in the position where residents of the City have access to lands.”
