Resident says Yabra project will cover ancestor’s grave
If you thought the “ruction” at the Yabra cemetery was all over with, think again. This morning, a Belize City resident, Sydney Fuller told us he had erected a cross in the cemetery to mark a family member’s grave, that he claims is otherwise slated for destruction by an ongoing community project. But this afternoon, Albert representative Mark Espat told News Five that according to the archaeology department, no one named Fuller is buried there.
Sydney Fuller
“My dad brought me here when I was a little boy and I knew it was here and we had measurement of the area so I knew exactly where it is.”
Q: “Why did you decide to do this now?”
Sydney Fuller
“I’ve been protesting the building on this cemetery and Mark Espat seem to take it on deaf ears. And Mr. Waight, the medical surgeon erected one over there and I decide I can just follow and do that cause we all have ancestors there and our loved ones so we have to care for them. This person who lies here is my great grand uncle.”
Mark Espat, Area Representative, Albert Division
“I don’t know where his relative is buried but I can tell you that the archives at the Department of Archaeology do not indicate that there’s any such person buried at that point, at that place.”
Q: “Now when I look at that site out there, regardless if there are headstones strew about the place, it’s evident that that was a burial site and that perhaps there are graves there, there are bones there. But when I spoke to you last, you told me no graves were going to be dug up. Are you saying that they’re going to be built over them, the buildings whatever, are going to be built over them?”
Mark Espat
“No, that’s not the case. The Department of Archaeology issued a press release that said categorically, there will be no disturbance to any graves, I repeat that now and I have given that commitment in public.
We have seen this week the unveiling of his party leader’s plans that Mr. Barrow had for Yabra, had they gotten re-elected. And we also saw extensive plans that the political officer Mr. Thomas Morrison had for the Yabra area. And so I ask the question, when did those grounds which we are now undertaking for the Yabra Redevelopment project, become sacred?”
Sydney Fuller
“I was here, my ancestors was here before and now I’m here before them again. So if they want to come, they have to deal with me. Let’s see how they deal with it then.”
Espat says the D.O.A. will continue to supervise the project until completion and will decide, according to the law, what needs to be done if any remains are found. In the Yabra Development Project, a basketball court has already been constructed and there are plans to build a clubhouse and other recreational facilities in the same area. The project also includes the construction of a number of new homes.
