West Landivar injunction extended by Supreme Court

A citizens group in the West Landivar neighbourhood of Belize City won a victory this morning when the Supreme Court agreed to extend an injunction against further development on a parcel of seafront land. The extension, granted by Justice Sir John Muria, will last until the civil action by resident Cecil Arnold against the development of a marina complex by businessman David Gegg has been heard. According to Tania Moody, attorney for the West Landivar Citizens Action Committee, the injunction means that Gegg will not be allowed to cut down any more mangrove at the site or engage in further development. The original ex parte injunction was granted on July fourteenth by Justice Michelle Arana after Gegg’s workers had chopped down around seventy percent of the property’s mangrove. This Friday, in a related lawsuit, Moody will be seeking judicial review against the Forest Department for granting Gegg the permit to cut the mangrove in the first place. The citizens group has been battling Gegg for several months, saying that his proposed marina and office complex will degrade the quality of life in the upscale neighbourhood and poses a threat to the health and safety of area residents. When contacted this afternoon Gegg told News Five that the so-called community group consists primarily of just three people: Perla Perdomo, Cecil Arnold, and Tanya Moody. The majority of West Landivar residents, according to Gegg, in fact support the project and the economic benefits it will bring.