Harmonyville’s survey costs $400 per acre
david barnett
The Harmonyville community being planned by the Belize Grass Roots Youth Empowerment Agency is inching forward slowly but surely. The surveys for the parcels are about to get underway but according to BIGYEA’s Vice President, to survey the one thousand, three hundred and twenty-two acres is going to cost more than a quarter million dollars. David Barnett stopped by our studio to say that each of the eight hundred applicants needs to cough up a few hundred dollars for their acre of land.
David Barnett, Vice President, BIGYEA
“The survey costs around three hundred and fifty thousand. I noh know if you eva gone dah Lands Department; fi acquire land yoh have to et yoh land survey before and all ah dat. Dis dah just part ah di process in order fi get dis land finally ours fi di people. Right now weh we di do dah call di eight hundred people that are listed, if they can come in dah di office at 42 Forestry Drive wid dehn Social Security ID or dehn passport and so dah we could elaborate more wid dehn if dehn have any more questions on di fees or whatever.”
Jose Sanchez
“How much will it cost per acre, per new land owner?
David Barnett
“Well, it’s going to cost something like four hundred dollars per acre, per each land owner.”
Jose Sanchez
Not all the people will be able to pay afford the four hundred dollars up front. Is there like a break that they can pay some one month and some the other?”
David Barnett
“What happen, we broke it down into two payments. They could pay like the first half by the end of July and the other half by end of August because the government says they are working with us and they want us to work fast as well too. All we di preach dah transparency. We di come out blunt and mek everybody know dis dah di procedure weh happen inna obtaining land you know.”
Jose Sanchez
“Is there any other fee in the acquisition of the land that the prospective landowners should have to bear as time progress?”
David Barnett
“Well, I do believe there’s another one from the government in order to purchase the land. We haven’t gotten to that part as yet though.”
The eight hundred persons who are acquiring land through BIGYEA can contact Elut Hall at the group’s Forest Drive office in Belmopan or by calling 605-9669.
If someone cannot pay $400.00 to survey & a nominal fee to acquire title, they cannot afford to build. Everyone should pay or stay in their family’s yard where they can bicker over space & expenses.
I agree with BZNinCALI. Some people just expect everything free. Like Barnett says, its a sacrifice and $400 is not much for an acre
Maybe these people should get their land for free because the Government won’t do anything for the Belizean people with the money that they aquire from the sale of these lands.
When the immigrants was living on the land the Belizeans was upset. Now they have the land they do not what to pay $400.00. If you do not have 400:00 dollars how will you develope the land.Waste a time.
Maybe they can come up with a MORE REASONABLE price. They still have to build and put up a fence too. This is why each small plot should contain a garden that produces something to sell. An acre could yield a good size garden.
the rastaville can pay for that since they and there group and their budies are heading this. WIll not pay for that never.
Are these people crazy or what crying over $400? I think if they do not have the means to build a decent home or do not get the means to build a decent home in 5 years they should not be allotted any land because the place will just evolve into another slum. If the price gets anymore reasonable then that’s free. I agree if they cannot afford it then leave it alone.
Hey Belizeans we have grown up now and are of age, we have moved out our parents (the Brits) home and are lining on our own. So get up stand up and pay your own bills!
400:00 per acre is equal to free. Give me 100 acres. Is things that bad in Belize
Time for me to leave this beautiful country. This country is so beautiful, but I wonder about the state of the people here. Not all, of course, but a growing amount of the population. Yes $400 is a lot of money…….but really……an acre of prime land and dem complain about $400.00. Mein…I would sell everything I have to raise $400.00 to get into that land, eat 50c ramon noodles for a few months to save. The rasta brother even accept payment schedules.
Something needs to change in this beautiful country….cant just sit on our growingly obesse backsides and expect everything for free.
As a non-profit, Harmonyville can create a relationship with a local bank/credit union as a charitable endeavor or create a fund using donations from local individuals and businesses. Offer the prospective land owners loans with no interest and affordable mortgages in exchange for their commitment as a member of Harmonyville.
Nothing should ever be free. We will never learn responsibility that way.
So, for those who can’t afford the $400, offer them a loan and give them a certain length of time to pay back the amount with no interest. Regularly check in on them, give them support, offer as much assistance to help them find ways to pay off the loan.
There are ways to get this done the right way. Look at models. I highly recommend looking at community rebuilding efforts in the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans, which had been devastated by Hurricane Katrina. http://www.makeitrightnola.org/index.php/coming_home/who_qualifies/
BIGYEA: here is another great model for your organization. Just trying to throw some ideas out there for you guys.
This is a non-profit organization that helps people with homebuyer education workshops, pre-purchase counseling, loan pre-qualification …
Think something like this would be an important component to BIGYEA’s efforts in creating Harmonyville. There are some things you can adopt here and make your own.
Check it out: Resources for Residents and Communities:
http://rrc.reynoldstown.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38&Itemid=51