Interestingly, the Guatemalan teacher, who Espat complained of as the chief culprit that has built an almost-complete house on his land, granted a revealing interview 2 months ago to a Guatemalan media house.
Here's what she had to say on September 12th to the reporter who went looking for answers about the controversial construction on Belizean territory. We have that translated for you:
Reporter
"We are informed that you are the owner of a construction that is currently underway by the Belize/Guatemalan border. Is it yours?"
Paula Reyes - Owner, Concrete House
"Yes."
Reporter
"How long do you have that land?"
Paula Reyes
"About 8 years, it was for my sister for about 4 years, and then I bought it from her for about 8 years now."
Reporter
"So you are the actual proprietor of the land? How much did you pay for it?"
Paula Reyes
"I bought it for $32,000 Quetzales."
Reporter
"What is the size of it in terms of acres?"
Paula Reyes
"Look when I bought this land, I went to the lands municipal so that they can go check and verify that it does not belong to Belize. They put markers."
"A guy who used to do surveying went and measured, and it looked like - if not, I would not have bought it. It looked like it was behind the line, and that's how I decided to buy the land. Unless I wouldn't have, to avoid problems."
"Imagine the construction I am doing now is with a loan from the bank."
Reporter
"How long has the construction started?"
Paula Reyes
"Hmm, from about February."
Reporter
"What is the cost of the construction?"
Paula Reyes
"About 75,000 quetzal."
Reporter
"Do you know where is the borderline?"
Paula Reyes
"Well, only from what they have told me."
Reporter
"So you went ahead and build based on confirmation and authority from the municipal?"
Paula Reyes
"Exactly."
Reporter
"Have any of the Belizean authorities visited you?"
Paula Reyes
"No."
Reporter
"BDF?"
Paula Reyes
"Only the BDF, but they have spoken to me and said there was no problem, just that I must not cross the line, and they cannot come on my side."
Reporter
"Is there any message you would want to give the authorities of Guatemala or Belize."
Paula Reyes
"That they would permit me to stay where I am because of so many years gone, and the sacrifices, including the loan I made to build the house. It's 10 years to pay back the loan."
Reporter
"One more thing I would like to ask. Do you have papers for the land?"
Paula Reyes
"No, because the Mayor says he doesn't give papers."
Email
Print