On Friday we showed you how the coast guard forcibly evicted the "Sanbore" squatters. The area is located 16 miles southeast of Placencia, north of the Sapodilla Caye Range. We showed you amateur video of the eviction scene on Friday. The residents say they had been there 12 years and were ejected without any lawful authority.
Well, today, we spoke to Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard and he told us that they acted within the law to evict the squatters and that the coast guard gave them enough warnings and time to move out.
Cpt. Elton Bennett, Vice Commandant, Belize Coast Guard
"Since mid-last year we have approached those individuals at that island and asked them to leave, you are squatting and you continue to develop on a sand bar and it started off as a traditional fishing camp. We recognize the need for fisherman being able to camp and conduct fishing operations but because that fishing camp has now become permanent in it's design we went to the island and told said you need to move or you need to get permission from the government to continue this operation. They failed to do so. We approached the lands department and informed them of that situation. We have received an official enforcement order from the lands department which we sent to the lawyers of those individuals, for them to seize operations at that location and refrain from any further development on the island so we are in phase of allowing them to remove whatever equipment of investment they have had on the island."
"We also have to look at the environmental impact of what they are doing because they are establishing permanent structures. It impacts the marine life and how it is affected out of that location and so between 3 to 5 years is when we have seen occupation on that island."
Bennett says contrary to reports and appearances in the video, his officers did not use excessive force. Officers are currently stationed at the island to ensure the squatters remove their belongings and to halt any further development.
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