Minister’s son is a beneficiary of lucrative Xate contract
By now you have heard of the Xate operations that are being undertaken by Eco-Green in the Cayo District. It is a controversial business because primarily Guatemalans cross into the Belizean territory, in forest reserves at that, to harvest the xate that is exported to Europe and the US. So when we reported back in February that the Minister of Agriculture had posed with US investors to give his blessing to the new operation that raised eyebrows.
We have been following this story and have come up with some rather interesting information. But first the background, we know that numerous licenses were cancelled in favor of the new company. We spoke to one person who was granted a permit by the Ministry of Natural Resources several years ago. Earl Codd got a license to harvest Xate leaves in the Chiquibul Forest in August of 2006. Codd’s operation, Chico-Mex Belize, was going full steam ahead. But the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment suspended his license. It was subsequently cancelled in July of 2008 and Codd has been unable to find out from the Ministry of Natural Resources why they put him out of business. To make matters worse, the entrepreneur finds himself stuck with over a quarter million dollars worth of equipment that he can’t use.
Earl Codd, Xate Licenses was Cancelled
“We had a license going back in 2006-2007, the license was cancelled by the Forest Department for no apparent reason before the expiration and was issued to one Gosen product for operation up in the Chiquibul area. We are still questioning why the license was cancelled and the reason for it. We had complied with all the necessary requirements set out within the license, setting in the proper proposal, security plan and harvesting plan and to date we have not received any response as to why the license was cancelled.”
Jose Sanchez
“How much money did you invest in your company?”
Earl Codd
“More than a quarter of a million dollars; it was significant. Prior to the cancellation I had invested almost a hundred and fifty thousand dollars in getting packaging materials and about a month after acquiring my packaging materials the license was cancelled. I have a letter from the Forest Department stating that the license was cancelled.”
Jose Sanchez
“A quarter of a million dollars is a lot of money why aren’t you seeking some recourse to recover those funds? You’re okay with losing the money?”
Earl Codd
“I have it sitting in my warehouse. It’s Equipment and other things that are not perishable.”
Jose Sanchez
“But you were going to use them for a business to make money.”
Earl Codd
“Yes, to expand my business.”
Jose Sanchez
“But you don’t have the license anymore, you can’t use that equipment.”
Earl Codd
“No at this time no. I can’t use it.”
Jose Sanchez
“So isn’t that a waste of your two hundred and fifty thousand dollars?”
Earl Codd
“It is yes. But I had tried selling some but it’s been difficult to get the type of equipment sold.”
Jose Sanchez
“But the viewer watching this would want to know why you aren’t trying to seek some sort of compensation for your investment. Yes you have the equipment but you can’t use it.”
Earl Codd
“The thing is that after the cancellation of the license, I had sought some legal advice and was told that because of the nature of the license we cannot take the department to court.”
Codd said that he already spent a lot of money and if he employed the services of a lawyer it would mean he would be out of pocket for even more money.
But back to Eco-Green, the new company promoted by the Minister of Agriculture that is registered in Santa Elena, Cayo, the Minister’s constituency. When we checked on its status, we found out that there are three subscribers, two registered at the same address in Guatemala, they are Mario Mendez Cobar and Mildred Aguilar. The third is Gosen Products, also registered in the Cayo District. And when we followed the paper trail further, the documents show that Gosen is a subscriber of Eco Green and has two directors. Guess who? Ramon Matus Jr. of Macal Street in San Ignacio and Robert Jaime Montero of Church Street, the son of the Minister of Agriculture. Sources close to the Minister claimed to News Five that Eco Green is employing Guatemalans and not Belizeans and that it pays a nominal fee of one cent royalty to government when the going price is normally three or four cents per leaf. Its target is to export three containers per month so if you do the math, there is a substantial loss to government coffers. All be told, the Minister’s son is a director of Gosen, that is a subscriber of Eco-Green, and Eco-green is the beneficiary of a lucrative contract awarded by the Government.
with this can we clearly see the political favouritism in the political field. secondly giving the bread earners of belize to guatemalan workers that is really disgraceful, disrespectful to we belizean. third we the poor pay the taxes fully and them pay minimal and cheap the goverment to later make the goverment talk on the media and say that the revenues and the other income source are low when the inside corruption in thier ministers are doing. belizean we need to stand up for our rights and if we need a new re-election before the time come we have the right since we the belizean not foreigners but goverment and can remove goverment.
INTERESTING, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE PUBLIC BECOMES AWARE OF GOVERMENT MISCONDUCTS?
well first thing first, its apparent that earl codd got his contract from the PUP government it is also important to note he is a PUP cronie as well, next thing he consulted with a lawyer but could not seek compensation, hmmm now that raises some questions, what was the nature of his contract and why until now we Belizeans find out about it, now i would say to seek malice the only other ppl he can contact about his situation is the media. Second thing, this Xate business is very tricky Guatemalans come into our land and take these leaves for free i would rather a Belizean businessman that is not affiliated with a political party get the concession and make some money for Belize.
Thank you Channel 5 for keeping us up to date with what is happening in regards to the Xate. Your news channel should consider a series of meetings in communities around the country to discuss the issues Belizeans are facing today and what might be some of the solutions. Many Belizeans continue to put up with these conditions because there is little or no access to the politicians. Belizeans need to realize that all of us feel the same way and need to stand up and demand the return of our country and our rights as citizens to decide what type of future we want for ourselves and our families. It is not alright for a person to work 6 days a week for less than 3$US an hour, struggling to feed their child and have nothing left to save for the future. While others get filthy rich off of connections and the blood, sweat and tears of past, present and future Belizeans. Wake Up Belize, Stand Up for Your Rights.
when will people learn never do business with the government, you will be out of a job in 5 years. Mr Codd should cut his losses and take this as a lesson learnt. As for the other party abusers..well..we will see what happens next election
VERY INTERESTING THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY ARE DOING WHAT THEY FEEL LIKE AND YET THEY SAY THAT EVERYTHING IS INORDER. LET US REMEMBER DAT THEY ARE THERE ONLY FOR FIVE YEARS. THEY CAN EVEN START SELL THE FOREST IF THEY BROKE.
earl codd s workers
had crossed my land many times and i had to chase his Guat works out each time ,,,they even tried to harrvest in the tapair reserve ,,and had to be chased out ,,i never seen any belizians only guats with no papers…most times they also appeared to have illeagal fire arms,,,When asked for there permits they showed a letter of employment withearl codd but no imagration, work permits or licences ,,,,,It is a great blessing that earl codds liecence was cancelled
There must be a law that would stop this type of actions taken by the politicians. There must be some sort of conflict of interst. But as usaul nothing will be done because of the exchange of favors or even money for this type of action to proceed. You are right we must fight against for these type of injustices to our own people. Good luck Mr Codd
I’M LOST!! CAN SOMEONE HELP ME? WHAT’S XATE???????
The only way to expose this scam is to target Universal Greens Ltd in Maimi and inform the great US public that if they buy Xate from this lot then they are supporting the desimation of one of that last remaining biologically diverse areas left in Central America –