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The disputed tract of land at mile 41 on the Western Highway – over the past three weeks it’s been at the center of intense clearing activity and heated public debate about the entire system of land distribution in Belize. So far, Nigel Petillo, the organizer of a grassroots movement to have regular Belizeans populate the land has collected 2,500 signatures of people who have signed up to own a piece of the property.

But the official pronouncement form government has been that it alone reserves the right to administer the land and it has directed all those occupying the property to stop what they are doing and cease occupation. With the always volatile issue of land ownership co-mingled with the question of entitlement and access, the situation has the makings of a powder keg But that keg may be on it’s way to being somewhat defused.

According to Petillo who spoke to us via phone this afternoon, he met with Prime Minister Dean Barrow today and they have agreed on a way forward. He says the Prime Minister has agreed to have Petillo and his group to oversee the distribution of lands and basically organize what will be an agricultural community. The understanding is that each owner will get a one acre plot. Now, there are only 1,300 acres and 2,500 signatures. And as we understand it, only 800 persons will get a plot, as 250 acres have to be set aside for roads and another 250 acres for schools and public spaces.

But the job of breaking it to the 1,600 or so persons who will necessarily be cut form the list is now left to the man who is semi-officially spearheading the project, Nigel Petillo. Again, that is the word from Petillo’s camp and we were unable to get any confirmation from the Prime Minister’s office. We’ll have more on it in tomorrow’s newscast.