On December 23rd, we told you about the land dispute between UDP standard bearer for Freetown, OJ Elringotn and his would - be constituent, Crystal Gillett Michael.
She's from a strong UDP family, but went "cross-way" with OJ over a piece of land.
She's been building her home on a property in the Belama Phase 4 area of Belize City. According to Gillett, everything was going according to plan until she was recently contacted by Elrington who demanded that she stop construction. He says that she is using a piece of government land that is reserved for a community resource center. Gillett asserts that Elrington was well-aware of her intentions to acquire this piece of land to construct her house. A stop order was issued by the Lands Department and things came to a head today when the police showed up to enforce it. We met Elrington in the area and he said he is powerless to stop it:
OJ Elrington, UDP Aspirant, Freetown
"A couple weeks ago you know that the individual/trespasser received her notice that she was trespassing on government property and we were alerted today that they continued to act in contravention of that order and so the police were called to enforce the order. Simple. Nothing less, nothing more."
Reporter
"So what will happen to this structure we see behind us?"
OJ Elrington, UDP Aspirant, Freetown
"It must be removed. Again, I think I mentioned this: I spoke to the family, we offered the young lady Crystal an opportunity for us to assist her in the relocation of the building. Again, like I said the selfish needs of an individual cannot supersede the genuine needs of the community and in no way or form will we allow that. But we thought that in the best interest to help her relocate we would assist her in relocating in another location. She decided obviously, we did not get a response, to act in contravention of the order and therefore we are here today."
Reporter
"You spoke about her selfish needs. Fine, but what about your selfish needs as a politician who wants to use this as a platform to get elected to say OJ build the community center?"
OJ Elrington, UDP Aspirant, Freetown
"Well anybody that knows me, knows that anything that I do I do as a team and firstly this is not my aspiration. The idea of a community center is a request of the members of the community and so we are acting on their behalf. It is not for me to build a mansion, for me to build an apartment, for me to build anything of this sort for myself. It is for the community, something that will be in the community's name."
Reporter
"Now ultimately 2020 is an election year, a convention year. You don't need this fight."
OJ Elrington, UDP Aspirant, Freetown
"We never need a fight, but as I told you I will always stand on the side of what is just."
When we visited the scene, the police had left - but all indications are that the effort to forcibly remove her from the property will continue.
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