BGYEA President refutes claims that he has private stake in planting corn
Nigel Petillo
As we told you, BGYEA took centre stage at the rally on Saturday. The group is fighting for the right to plant corn in about sixty acres designated as a buffer zone in Harmonyville. Government is just as adamant that the buffer zone is to remain, in its words, pristine. BGYEA had located an investor who would have provided the corn, with profits being shared between that investor and the community. On Saturday, BGYEA President, Nigel Petillo, refuted claims that he has a private stake in the corn which was to be planted, and that is the reason for the outcry.
Nigel Petillo, President, BGYEA
“There’s a lot of different rumours and lots of other things going on out there. The bottom line that I want you to recognize is that the investments that are taking place at Harmonyville are not about one individual. It is about the development of a community for its people and for this country. I am prepared to make another arrangement with any individual or organization or business or corporation who is ready to give back to the people and to this country. I still hold no apology. I still hold no apology. That individual saw it fit to come and work with us. We have been crying out to the government to come and assist us. We have been crying out to the government to build our roads, work on the buffer. They chose not to. They said it was our responsibility. We went out and we found individuals who are interested in working for us, for the people, for this country and again no apologies. Mr. Sam Patton was bullied out…he was forced out by the government. However there are other Sam Pattons out here, there are other Belizeans out here, there are other individuals out here who understand what’s taking place at Harmonyville. No apologies! After we win the court case Friday, we will plant the corn free, freely without disturbance from the government.”
I don’t understand the BGYEA issue because they have a lot of land that they could have used to plant. They should also seek to become farmers themselves.
mek them plant the corn way da back weh them got the weed and bring the weed to the buffer zone
@ history minded, come to the class room and be educated.
BGYEA was told they must maintain the land between their plot of land and the roadside (buffer). They need roads to be able to get to their parcels so as to develop same. Unlike other communities, the government refuse to put these roads in for them.
So, BGYEA received and accepted an offer to cultivate (clean) the land and plant some corn, sell it and get 15% from the proceeds and use that money to put in their OWN road.
In my book, that’s a win win situation. They would be keeping the buffer clean and at the same time generating money to uplift their community. Feeding two birds with the same corn, so to speak.(pun intended).
Now, the question is: why would a government be opposed to such an initiative?
Thus endeth the lesson.
BGYEA will amount to nothing as all that land it acquired was stolen from a Chinaman who was in jail and was not provided his legal due process to argue his position in this case. Ask the president who gave him the inside track on getting the land. BGYEA is dead already just a bunch aof thieves clamoring for attention.