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Barrow Exposes The Great Land Grab
posted (December 21, 2007)

But before we were pushed away, the PM did answer questions from another media house about what the leader of the Opposition called a land grab that's been happening under the Natural Resources Minister Florencio Marin. In case you missed it, at Wednesday's House meeting Barrow outlined some choice land transactions to friends of the government. Here's what he had to say and what Minister Marin said in response.

Hon. Dean Barrow, UDP Leader
"The name by which I am now known in their circles, Mr. Quitar. Well I want to tell yourself, members of this House and the nation exactly why to them I am now, always have been, and always will be, Mr. Quitar. I want Madam Speaker to talk about the record of giveaways, the land grab over which this Minister of Natural Resources has presided over the last few months. Because we have all the details I can give you the grant numbers for every single portion that I am talking about.

And then Madam Speaker when I turn the pages of my notes here, I find Nexus Development Company Limited, 0.88 acres on Dead Man's Caye. Again I didn't even know there was a Dead Man's Caye. Nexus Development Company Limited, grant 1103 of 2007, 0.27 acres and others. Dead Man's Caye: Nexus Development Company Limited, 93.110 acres Montego Caye. This is not helping the Belizean people and I will tell you who Nexus Development Limited is right now. The agent for Nexus Development is Francois Chebat, the campaign manager for the Prime Minister in the Fort George Constituency. He is also the agent for Marlin Reef Resort Development Limited, 45.032 acres, Dead Man's Caye. Marlin Reef Resort Limited another 50.305 acres Dead Man's Caye. Nexus Development Company Limited again, 0.35 acres. They've already grabbed up the land on Dead Man's Caye. This now 0.35 acres is on Caye Caulker.

Resort Investment Limited, grant no. 1169 of 2007, 232.6 acres on Blackbird Caye. And who was the agent for Resort Investment Limited, who did the pickup, Arnaldo Papi Pena. And you want us not to tell the Belizean that we are going to take away these things once they elect the UDP? Justice demands it, the poor people out there who can't get anything for themselves demand that we act properly.

Right after Resorts Investment Limited, Toledo Free Zone Limited. Again Arnaldo Papi Pena, we know who else is involved in that company with Pena, 461.22 acres west of Elridgeville. Then Madam Speaker there is a grant, we haven't been able to discover the exact acreage on Southern Long Caye to one Orlando Habet. Isn't that the name of the PUP candidate in the Cayo Northeast constituency?

And then we come to one Isidoro Galvez, otherwise known as Charlie Card, block number on Turneffe. That is the father of Isidoro Galvez Junior, who is the PUP candidate for the Cayo South constituency. Isidoro the father, gets this block 2 in the Turneffe. Isidoro the son, the standard bearer, gets block number 1 at Iguana Creek and he also gets grant 912 of 2007, 29.83 acres southeast of Arnaldo Road.

And then I actually have one here for Michael Espat. I only know one Michael Espat. Grant 899 of 2007, block 2, sea coast or Orange Point Ares Toledo, signed on the second of November of 2007. Malcolm Vasquez, 20.279 acres, Caye Caulker signed on the second of September 2007.

And then Madam Speaker we come to Mr. Karim Adele. Grant 877 of 2007, 3.932 acres, Great Monkey Caye, another name unfamiliar to me. Karim Adele again, grant 876 of 2007, a lot in San Ignacio. Miriam Adele, I imagine some relation to Karim Adele, lot in San Ignacio and Karim Adele again 874 of 2007, a lot in San Ignacio.

And then it ends up Madam Speaker with a household name, William Arthur Lindo, Bill Lindo. Yes unfortunately my cousin, like you said boy you could choose your friend but you can't choose your relatives, how that has haunted me. William Arthur Lindo, 85 acres on South Riders Caye. I close by saying again that this is the record of the PUP that the people of this country are concerned about."

Hon. Florencio Marin, Minister of Natural Resources
"I want to say here that I stand by my actions as Minister. I do not solicit any Belizean to come and ask me for any land. But when they come, I attend to them and if the land is available and if the land is available free of encumbrance, I have accommodated requests. And as long as I am there, this policy will continue. I will attend to everyone. What the Member from Queen's Square failed to report, I even attended to his son. I make no apologies for what I have done to serve the Belizeans in the best interest of the country and to develop Belize. With regards to names of other people being called, I had no fear whatsoever. He can continue to spy on the Ministry of Natural Resources as he has done so well. But just let me tell him something Madam Speaker, in this life what you sow is what you reap."

And speaking with the press yesterday, the Prime Minister did as expected, he defended the actions of his Minister of Natural Resources.

Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"I support the decision to provide land to our people. Obviously we can get into a question about quantity and purchase price and all that, but certainly the policy of my government is to make land available to the Belizean people, especially those in need; who need a house lot, or who need a piece of farm land, because that is the way. Land is a very valuable resource and we do have to step up the distribution of land as we have been doing. And as we heard yesterday in the House, close to sixty thousand or more lots and parcels of land have been distributed by this Government."

Florencio Marin has said that he is retiring from electoral politics after this term.

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