Mobile Land Clinic Convened in Ladyville

Since 2021, Minister of Natural Resources Cordel Hyde has been bringing the lands department to the people through its mobile clinics across the country. They’ve been south in Dangriga, north in Corozal, and to the island town of San Pedro. But today, their stop was Ladyville – one of the largest, most populated areas of Belize Rural Central. News Five’s Duane Moody.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Hundreds of residents from nine villages that encompass Belize Rural Central converged today at the Ladyville Community Center for day one of a land clinic organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Desiree Robinson

Desiree Robinson, Hattieville Resident

“I decided to come out because I believe that this is the perfect opportunity for me to try, as a first time landowner in the Hattieville, to seek a piece of land.

We as Belizeans, it is important that we earn a piece of land; it is very important that we get a piece of land.”

Duane Moody

“So, your intention is to get this land so that you can build, provide for your family?”

Desiree Robinson

“Definitely sir, definitely.

David McCulloch

David McCulloch, Brotherhood Association/Ladyville Resident

“The people are well appreciative of the two days that he is going to b e spending in the community. But as they are only going to be doing a hundred persons per day, it is only going to be two hundred persons per day. The community is made up of thousands of people that have a lot of issues.”

And that is exactly what the land clinic is trying to achieve. Lands Minister Cordel Hyde says that there are persons who have gone for decades without land titles, purchase offers and even lease documents.

Cordel Hyde

Cordel Hyde, Minister of Natural Resources

“The demand is great. We have lots of people who have been trying to get their problems solved for many years – ten years, five years, eight years – and that’s why we bring the government and the department to the people so that they don’t have to labour going to Belmopan and spend all that money, deal with all the frustration and there are thousands and thousands of files there right, but when you come here, you are the most important person for that day. Today, it’s a lot of people who have…I just met a guy just now. He applied to purchase his land from 1998; never got that done and so in the last few years, someone has squatted on the land. So that’s a conundrum because if we issue the purchase approval to him and he buys that land, he’s buying a problem because it may not be a peaceful person and so it gets complicated. You have people who applied for their title three four five years ago, applied for their purchase approval the same amount a years, live on their land for a long time, applied for their lease for a long time to regularise their situation and just can’t seem to get it.”

Belize Rural Central area rep Dolores Balderamos-Garcia is elated about this opportunity being afforded to her constituents.

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Area Representative, Belize Rural Central

“Bringing the services of the lands department to the people is absolutely brilliant. What we did was upgraded the internet service here at the Ladyville Community Center and basically, it is like a travelling Lands Department. He has brought out from the commissioner, from the senior staff, from the staff in Cayo, Belmopan and Belize City and we are thrilled to accommodate because people have a feeling that their government cares for them.”

Duane Moody for News Five.