On Friday we showed you a meeting of concerned citizens in Belize's Southernmost town. They had gathered in protest of a planned seaside gas station which they believed would threaten their livelihoods, the environment, and the first impression visitors have become accustomed to on reaching the picturesque town. They were also largely upset at the absence of Mayor Ashton Mckenzie at last week's meeting. He spoke to KREM News via zoom this afternoon about what he believes the owner of the disputed parcel can and cannot do.
Ashton Mackenzie, Mayor, Punta Gorda
"As it pertains to the new development at the Y area, that parcel of land had been owned by well over a decade by one of the first prominent Chinese businessman to come here in Punta Gorda and everybody in this municipality especially those who are older than I am know very well who Mr. Augosto Mak is. The land was owned by Augosto and Susan Mak and approximately about a year and a half ago they decided that they would dispose of the property and they sold it to another Chinese businessman of Dangriga for $375,000 by way of a legitimate transaction that can be traced and verified at the lands department. It is not very much in our purview to - we don't have control over what is taking place there. 1) it is private property, 2) the owner off this property submitted the requisite 
documents such as environmental impact assessment (EIA) which has been accepted by the department of the environment. They have in that letter, it is evident that the clearance has been given and the necessary procedures. To weigh the environmental risk and the threat that it poses to the environment. Under the constitution of Belize when it speaks to land ownership and construction, if you are desirous of any form of development as long as your plans, your development poses no threat to the environment it satisfies the department of environment, if it satisfies the building code then you are entitle to build what you are desirous of building. I am open to having a meeting with the entire town. That is not a problem. As a matter of fact if you note I have shared all the requisite documents on my personal facebook page, the title of the land, and as a matter of fact when it comes to the ownership history of the land, that information can be verified at the lands department."
As you heard Mayor Ashton Mckenzie has proposed a town hall to address the concerns of the townspeople. We'll keep following this story.
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