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Jim McFadzean braved the wet weather to go out to the village that's getting ready to do battle all over again - even if it means challenging the government that gave them village status:..

Hon. Gabriel Martinez
"The champagne corks can be unleashed and the drums roll as St. George's Caye makes its formal entry into village status."

Jim McFadzean Reporting
That announcement was welcome news for the island's residents, eager to have a say in plotting their own future. A future they say has at its core the preservation of the island's rich heritage and teeming habitats for wildlife.

But now a major plan by monied developers to cut down an estimated 10 acres of mangrove on the northwest side of the island for a multi-million dollar housing project is raising the ire of villagers.

Why? Because according to Village Council Chairman, John Searle, the area in question is covered by the mangrove act and is soon to be declared a mangrove reserve.

John Searle Jr. Village Council Chairman
"The big problem happening especially with the fishermen that live on the island is that a development of this nature is going to entail a lot of dredging which leads to a lot of siltation and the siltation is going to affect the sea grass beds which in turn affects all the fishing especially the lobster fishing."

Pedro Alvarez, Chairman - National Coop.
"I've been fishing in that area like 35-40 years and dredging have been done already and we see the detriment of it in the area that we immediate fish. We mostly fish for lobster and scale fish around that area and after we found out that the dredging took place - there is a lot of silt that fell off and we found out that the lobster has to move from the ground because the ground becomes filthy with a scum on the bottom and there no longer a feeding ground for lobster or fish to survive on, so automatically they have to move away and migrate from there. These are the areas that we fish directly."

John Searle Jr. Village Council Chairman
"The information that we gather is that it's on permission from the Lands Department, Government of Belize Natural Resources and also the information we gather that its 31 lots including a marina inside this mangrove area."

Jim McFadzean
"When did you found out about this development or this plan development?"

John Searle Jr. Village Council Chairman
"Well there were rumors about it around August 28 when they had the opening of the September celebrations out here and by September 5, I had residents calling me and asking me questions about this proposed development and I immediately went to see our Area Representative Hon. Manuel Heredia."

Jim McFadzean
"And what was his response? Did he know it was going on on St. George's Caye?"

John Searle Jr. Village Council Chairman
"No, he indicated to me that he was unaware of any plans for any kind of sub-division on St. George's Caye and that he would take it up in Cabinet and try to find out information for us."

Jim McFadzean
"Why is it that the village council is not aware of such a major plan that will involve the uprooting of mangroves which is primarily a great protection in the event of hurricanes - which is a threat to islands such as this one?"

John Searle Jr. Village Council Chairman
"That's a very good question there Jim because according to the village council act section 47-C - it says that the ministry responsible for lands shall consult the village council prior to any dealings with lands in the village and so far we have not had any consultation. All efforts to try to find out any information are proving fruitless."

But Searle is getting a hard lesson in village council affairs. In the middle of ferrying the media for a firsthand look at the government sanctioned surveying, he received a call from the CEO of the lands department who gave him a stern reminder as to who has the last say in any and all land dealings in Belize.

Jim McFadzean
"Have you had any communication with anyone from the Ministry of Lands?"

John Searle Jr. Village Council Chairman
"Yes I've made a number of phone calls to people in the Ministry of Lands and one of the responses that I got was that it was an internal document and that they needed permission to release the document to the village council."

Jim McFadzean
"The country of Belize is small, even so is the island of St. George's Caye. You are telling me that as of now you have no idea who is in charge of this development - the plan as is right now?"

John Searle Jr. Village Council Chairman
"That's exactly right Jim, we have zero information on who is behind this development. The only thing we know is that the surveyors are working under the permission the Government of Belize Natural Resources."

Jim McFadzean
"as it stands now, indeed, it seems like the government of Belize has given its blessings, at least the ministry of lands to this project. An estimated 10 acres that will be divided up into 31 lots…..reporting from St. George's Caye, for seven news I'm Jim Mcfadzean.

Searle says the development plan he has seen includes the construction of a Marina that will require the dredging of a channel that's likely to cut across the island.

Late this afternoon, 7news spoke with Beverly Castillo, CEO in the Ministry of Natural Resources who confirmed that the survey is being conducted to create a subdivision of approximately 31 lots, to be distributed individually.

Castillo says the National Lands Act gives the Minister of Natural Resources the power to do just that. She says she is not aware of any permit issued to construct a Marina, and neither is she aware of any law that requires the Minister consult with Village Council officials, except as it relates to recommendations sought during distribution of lots.

Castillo says she has offered to entertain any grievances by the Village Council and to investigate whether her department committed any violations in the process.