Land Woes in Port Loyola
There was a huge fracas over land in the Port Loyola division of Belize City this morning. Ten families are saying that the land they toiled for about a year now, following a verbal agreement with former area rep Anthony “Boots” Martinez, is being taken away by current area rep Gilroy Usher Senior and given to his political cronies. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Rosalie Marfield
Rosalie Marfield, Resident
“From before the COVID-19 we mi deh back yah soh, di clean out and the land done full up and thing. He met us to the back here and he told us that he noh want take no land from we. And ih gone and now, ih di bring this house yah to put pan one ah di land dehn.”
Melisha Flores
Melisha Flores, Resident
“Sometime in last month, we started with the sill but out of wi pocket too so we di try, my husband di try ih best fi we have something. And like I say, we poor people di try hard fi something. We mi deh behind Mister Boots for years and finally ih say the okay fi give we something and I noh got a land. I live ina my brother-in-law yard and when we get this, I mi so happy because my kids deserve it.”
But the residents have no land documents, even as they are making claim to a number of parcels in the area. Martinez confirmed with News Five that thousands of dollars had been invested into filling up the area; while at least two structures are under construction, one is completed.
Duane Moody
“They have any kind of document to say that it is a leased land that they’ve been issued? Anything?”
Anthony “Boots” Martinez
Anthony “Boots” Martinez, Former Area Rep., Port Loyola
“No…what exists. The only official paper that exists was the official papers, permission to survey for the Ministry of Natural Resources requested from the area representative at the time, Honorable Anthony Boots Martinez. They noh have no official document even to say that they will be getting or get a permission, but I am saying naturally mien, you have to deal with weh we need fi deal with.”
Gilroy Usher Senior says that the residents are claiming rights to government land, for which there is an application process for the acquisition of a parcel.
Gilroy Usher Sr.
Gilroy Usher Sr., Area Rep., Port Loyola
“He did not come around to do the subdivision for this area here. The government changed and therefore Mister Martinez, as much as he wants to say the opposite, he no longer has authority over government land because he is not the area representative. Government funds paid to bulldoze this place, government funds from Fabers Road was used to fill up this area; government funds were used to pay for the broad survey. So all I am saying is as the duly elected representative for Port Loyola, I have the authority now for the distribution of government lands in the area.”
Anthony “Boots” Martinez
“At no time was this land filled from the coffers of the government. This land was filled by the group named Port Loyola Housing for the Poor. Each one of dehn lot yah cost over twelve thousand dollars to fill; we noh di talk about the chopping and so but the people dehn come and bring sweat equity. I have a document in my bag where the permission came and the lots were allotted by name to people on the lots before.”
So what’s the next step for those who have already put in place structures?
Gilroy Usher Sr.
“I am an understanding person. We will get the place subdivided and since you have already built the house there, I will make the arrangement to leave you with that portion and the same thing with the person here. You already build the foundation so I will leave you with it. But in the other instances, the persons need to follow the normal procedure in applying for a piece of land.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
