Little Melchor traders get notice to relocate

Most Belize City residents know of Little Melchor, but today News Five received notice that Little Melchor will be no more. The property at the corner of George and Orange streets that is occupied by mostly Central American traders has reportedly been acquired by businessman Hans Bhojuani who apparently has new plans for the lot. The tenants say that they have received verbal notice to vacate the premises in the next few days by the sixteenth of August. The tenants are petitioning for an extension to give them time to find an alternative business location. News Five spoke to several stall owners.

Gladys Gomez, Vendor, Little Melchor
“Well, what’s happening is that they gave us a short time, the sixteenth of august, and I think that well, we have a business we have a family to maintain and we can’t just move from here spontaneously otherwise our business will fail. We don’t have where else to go and we’re just asking the new owner that bought the place to give us some time; some time for us to find an alternative location, at least ninety days to remedy our situation.”

The stall owners were notified only two weeks ago about the purchase and are in shock about the short notice for eviction. They have been conducting business at that location for over fourteen years and have written a petition to the new owner asking for time. The operators of Little Melchor also intend to seek legal advice. News Five was unable to reach Bhojuani for comments.