Students protest for land to be returned to school
A portion of the land on which a school sits in the village of San Antonio has been taken over by the Area Representative, and Minister Rene Montero. On it now sits a slaughterhouse, which was opened this morning, but the occasion had its own share of controversy. While some villagers welcomed the idea of jobs that will be created for members of the village women’s group others are outraged that the property they believed belongs to a nearby school was illegally reclaimed to set up the project. News Five’s Isani Cayetano headed west and found out that tempers were flaring.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Students of the United Pentecostal Primary were very vocal as they expressed their dismay about the removal of the school’s vegetable garden. They did so in the blistering midday heat.
Isani Cayetano
“While the Ministry of Agriculture inaugurated a new poultry processing facility adjacent to United Pentecostal School, its students were up in arms over the reclamation of land they used for gardening on which the plant now stands.”
School principal Brian Tzib says despite not having proper documentation to verify ownership of the land, the village council chairperson should have consulted with the school’s administration before repossessing it and destroying the students’ livelihood.
Brian Tzib, Principal, United Pentecostal School
“That parcel of land that they have used to put the women’s group project is actually a piece of our school compound because if we take a look at the compound itself, it was surveyed when the school was established and monuments were put in place to designate it as block for United Pentecostal School. The garden is exactly within that block. Now we do not have land documents like they claim but that is no surprise because how many schools in this country do not have land papers for their school compound?”
According to Tzib, due process was followed on their part to inform relevant government officials of the situation in San Antonio but there was little done to intervene. Village councilor, Rene Mai, also contends that chairman Rene Canto did not notify them of the land transaction between himself and area representative Rene Montero.
Rene Mai, Village Councilor
rene mai
“I was not informed about the situation until afterwards I was informed that there is going to be a slaughterhouse on the same land. According to Minister Montero, he said that the land is for the government. They went to the Lands Department and they searched about that piece of specified land and they said that it’s not recorded as school property and they went ahead with the construction of the slaughterhouse.”
That structure now sits about a hundred feet away from the school and its cafeteria. Parents and teachers are already complaining of the noise killing chickens will create in the area. Of equal concern to them, is the livelihood of the two hundred plus students who express an interest in gardening.
Concerned Parent
“As a farmer I would like my children also and the children of other parents to know, to be educated and to learn how to work the soil also because we cannot depend on only pen and pencils we have to depend on food also.”
For Celenie Tzib destroying the vegetable garden in favor of a slaughterhouse is a disappointment.
Celenie Tzib, Student, UPS
“I am really sad because I know that that garden, well it was God’s will for us to have this school and that garden and I know that God will deal with whoever did that because I know that the chairman knows that what he’s doing is wrong.”
Rene Canto refused an interview on the matter, so did area representative and Minister of Agriculture Rene Montero. Despite not being given a formal audience, Tzib says the message has been sent that the slaughterhouse is unwelcome.
brian tzib
Brian Tzib
“We made it clear today that our PTA, our parents, even our children are so, so dissatisfied and so upset about the actions of our elected people because I believe that their first responsibility was to come and say well there‘s a garden there we can improve it, but don’t come and destroy it.”
Apart from destroying the garden the plot has also been fenced to avoid the students from entering the facility. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
The people were very naive to elect Rene Montero and expect good governance. Reminds me of the popular Greek saying: the people deserve the government they elect!
A slaughter house should be put on the outskirts of the town, not inside the town/village. Morevoer, if the property belonged or leased to the school let it remain so.
first of all rene what you did to a christian school is disrespectful to the kids and to the mission. secondly the poorly way of dealing with this case of taking thins that you mean belongs to the goverment is abuse of authority. you should have made speechs, meetings with the school board first then the community and then decide if it’s really worthy. there are so many piece of land outside the village that could have been used or bought. david took the lamd from the poor man the only one and made a feast for hius guest, guess what that’s excalty what you did take advantage of the poor and weak. hope God punishes you accordingly .
It was a damn shame to see the school principal with a big knife in his hand. What kind of example is he? Moreover, they called themselves CHRISTIANS. Wow, CHRISTIANS STONING CHRISTIANS. DAMN SHAME.!!!!!
do not post response if you are not well aware and properly informed about the situation. the principal did not had any kind of knife and if you are a wise person (the truth) you will see the reality you will not be ignorant. what kind of minister of agriculture we have, how will he promote agriculture if he is taking away the land where the children learn about agriculture. i know some people are in agreement and some are in disagreement but those that are in disagreement are ignorant because they see it on the wrong side. Rene Canto was elected to help the people not to destroy the village. what all he has done so far is to hurt the villagers with his injustices now even his own people do not want him because even to them he has done wrong. I know you might say Christians should not do fight against but let me tell you they are not fighting they are standing for thier right. you say that cristians stoning christian because you might not be in that position but remember everything you sow here in this world you harvest it here. hope you get well informed and not be blind anymore about the reality.
i believe its something wrong
In my point of view it was a Good Idea that they planed to do a slaughterhouse.to me as a youth was something good to hear about the project because i knew it was going to create jobs and help youths like me to get a job in some kind a way and other people of the village and the womens Group
secondly it was not a real garden because they did not have any Vegetables or other stuff planted on the piece of land that they are claiming as their Garden. the only stuff they had there was a small crate of Earth worms and tall grass covering the entire piece of land.
that place was abandoned they did not even worried to clean it and make it look like a real garden for the school kids.
The Minister and Chairman had a public meeting with the villagers and asked if they accept or are they against the project that will be done on the piece of land and majority of people that attended the public Meeting voted YES! so that’s when the project continued on its way.
They offered them a real Garden that they will be help with everything a garden needs the and they refused the offer!
so whats the problem?
i am not on favor of no political party i am speaking the truth and the truth shall set me free and every body!
Thanx.
jejjej’ thats a joke……I believe its not the HONOURABLE’ Mr.Rene Montero’s fault,but its the people’s fault [San Antonio] they gave their vote to mr montero so let them handle it now.But what is for the comunity should remain for the comunity and its san antonio who have the say NOT rene montero’ “come on they have a village council and the chairman and his councillors should stand up for what is right,its a good idea to provide jobs but i believe they should have consulted first with the village at a whole ….and the way mr montero is behaving is like he no care for what others think …..he just wants to do his will and no one can stop him…..lol thats a good one conspiracy”THE PEOPLE DESERVE THE GOV’T THEY ELECT… I stand to it !
Brain Tzib should feel ashamed for behaving this way, what bother him is that he can’t get his own way too, Brain you know exactly what I am talking about, you no good man who hide behind the word of God to look like if you are a saint, bway go purify yoursselve cause god no like hypocrates like you.
BRIAN TZIB IS THOSE PEOPLE WEH DEM CALL,……………………
These people are not christians,they are what the Bible refers to asWolf in Sheep’s Clothing.
It is so sad that our concerned villagers are small-minded dummies. I did not know that Christians define “RIGHT” as to STONE the Women’s Group. Ask the San Ignacio Inspector who had to intervene by instructing the principal to send the children in class around 11:30. The Ministry of Education should investigate as to exactly what happened in the school compound. Who authorized the school principal to allow PUP crowd (Alex Balona and his brain washed candidates) on the compound? How come knife, sling-shots, etc were in use on the compound? How come the children did not participate in the annual festival of arts?
“It is so sad that our concerned villagers are small-minded dummies.”
From little acorns, big Oak trees grow. Todays petty minded village council, town and city mayors & councillors will be main stream thieving, party political, petty minded “Honourable” Ministers soon!
It’s just that the troughs will get bigger, and filled with more of our hard earned taxpayers money for them to stick their snouts in as they go up the ladder to Belmopan!
Let us pray for all who are involved in this controversy. But surely human politicians of whatever party will disappoint us. True Christians do not look up to politicians for their well being. When Jesus Christ sets up his kingdom on earth, then there will be true prosperity for His people. Thy kingdom come and SOON!