Government asserts it will build houses by BelChina

The Government has responded to statements made at Tuesday’s United Democratic Party press conference. U.D.P. Leader Dean Barrow said the party had rejected the Government’s offer to allow them to purchase the land their headquarters is situated on for 100 thousand dollars since they maintain they already have legal title to the land. The U.D.P. claims it was given the entire strip of land at the foot of the BelChina Bridge as a gift during the last U.D.P. administration. They are asking the government to wait for the court’s determination as to the legality of their title and not begin the construction of low-income houses on the property. Today the government said the U.D.P. had compounded the illegality of their claim to the property by refusing to pay for it. G.O.B. reiterated its position that one: the U.D.P. must pay for the land it occupies. Two: the U.D.P. will not be evicted nor their operations disrupted and three, the government will proceed with its plan to build low income houses on the property not being used by the U.D.P. for low income Belizeans.