The Briceño administration paid a whopping six point nine million dollars for fifteen acres of land in Belmopan and that sprawling property which belonged to businessman Kevin Zheng will be the site for the university hospital. The price tag for the acreage sold to the Government of Belize has been described by independent valuators as costly. While the purpose of the acquisition is for a public good, many are left to wonder whether the Ministry of Natural Resources could have gone about obtaining the land through other means. Earlier today, News Five sat down with former Prime Minister Dean Barrow who shared his thoughts on the controversial land purchase and the steps that G.O.B. could have followed. We begin our newscast tonight with that one-on-one conversation.
Dean Barrow
Dean Barrow, Former Prime Minister
“There’s no doubt that in my mind, that that’s a legitimate public purpose. When government decides to acquire compulsorily for a public purpose, one of the things that the land owner can always question by going to court is whether the stated public purpose, or the public purpose stated by government is indeed legitimately a public purpose. In this case, if you are talking about acquiring land for a public hospital, it seems to me that there is hardly any doubt that that constitutes a public purpose. The law actually says that when the minister declares something to be for a public purpose, that is his definition alone is prima facie evidence that it is for a public purpose, but prima facie means that it is rebuttable. There is a presumption that it is for a public purpose which the landowner can rebut. But in a situation where you are talking about a public hospital, it is hard to see how any successful argument can be made that that is not a legitimate public purpose. It is relatively straightforward, there is a Compulsory Acquisition Public Purposes Act which has been used time out of hand for exactly the purposes for which the law is designed. So, once there is a legitimate public purpose involved, the government has nothing to worry about in terms of acquiring private property. It is absolutely provided for under the law. This is not anything peculiar to Belize, any civilized democratic, progressive society does afford that sort of right to a particular government. The public interest, the larger good must be allowed to override the personal interests of individual citizens, so long as the individual citizen is going to be properly compensated for the dispossession of his or her property.”
Former P.M. Barrow, himself a seasoned attorney, also outlined the steps that could have been taken to acquire the property in question, including compensation once the land had been vested in the Minister of Natural Resources.
Dean Barrow, Attorney-at-law
“The minister, no doubt, after consultation with his cabinet colleagues decides that there is a piece of private property that the government needs to acquire, the minister, having come to that decision will publish a declaration in the gazette notifying of his decision to acquire that particular piece of property. That notification, that gazette publication will contain all the necessary particulars. He must publish two declarations but there is an interval of six weeks between the first and the second publication. That six-week interval must be used by the minister to invite the landowner to negotiate because it is always better if the acquisition can be done by way of a voluntary sale which will make it then not a compulsory acquisition. More likely than not, while the minister or the authorized officer so designated by the minister must engage in that kind of good faith negotiation process, more likely than not it will come to naught because no doubt the landowner is going to want far more for his or her land than the government is prepared to give. But once the government has conducted or engaged in that sort of an effort to see whether there can be a voluntary transfer for an agreed price, if that doesn’t work then the minister publishes his second declaration after the intervening period has elapsed. And immediately after that second declaration is published, the land vests in the minister, in the government and thereafter, it is just a matter of the government carrying out the public purpose which the land now vested in the minister or the government, carrying out the public purpose for which it was acquired. Of course, there is the question of compensation.”
We also heard from the Leader of the Opposition, Moses “Shyne” Barrow on the government’s decision to acquire fifteen acres of roadside property for the construction of a new hospital in Belmopan. He described it as corrupt and outrageous. Barrow also revealed that the United Democratic Party will be joining a group of civilians that has organized a protest for Friday morning in front of the Prime Minister’s office in Belmopan. Here is what he told us.
Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“To me, this cannot be described as anything other than corruption. When you look at the fact that the parcels of land that are nearby and these parcels of land are fifteen acres was assessed by the Belmopan City Council at a hundred and sixty-nine thousand for one, because I believe it is fifteen acres and another hundred and add, for a total of three hundred thousand. That was the assessment. I don’t know if that was corruption on the part of the Belmopan City Council so that they could pay less taxes. But that was the going rate. So, to go from three hundred thousand to about seven million is absolutely outrageous. What makes it more outrageous is that you have UB that has eight hundred acres that we would get for free. What makes it even more outrageous is the fact that you have the honorable prime minister who came to the House of Representatives and said that the Saudi Fund gave Belize ninety million dollars in order to build a tertiary level hospital and we are building it on the University of Belize Campus and it will be a teaching facility and this is what was presented to the people of Belize and this is what was passed n parliament. And to come back and say there was a feasibility studies and experts that came and said it wouldn’t make sense, no one is buying that. So to make the investment of seven or eight million in the University of Belize to create the necessary infrastructure so that you can have a hospital there, that would be the proper investment. You are helping the constituency of Belmopan. You are benefiting the students and future students to come. That would be a benefit to Belize, to our national university for generations to come. This would have become a hallmark accomplishment for the Briceno administration. But this just shows how greedy, how glutenous they have become.”
The location of the proposed University Hospital to be constructed in Belmopan continues to be a concern for both the public and governmental bodies. Initially, the hospital was to be built on the University of Belize property, but that was ruled out as an option by government officials. On Friday, Minister of the Environment, Orlando Habet, told us that an assessment would be conducted on the property purchased by the Government of Belize., the question of whether the smell or possible leakage is a risk for the safety of the hospital was raised, since there are sewage treatment ponds located near the land. Here’s what Chief Environmental Officer Anthony Mai had to say.
Anthony Mai
Anthony Mai, Chief Environmental Officer, D.O.E.
“Well, I’m not sure. We haven’t received anything in the D.O.E. I haven’t been given any details of the project per se, so it’s difficult to say. And I’m very cautious about basically giving an opinion on something that I don’t have critical information on. The way the Department of Environment works is we use scientific information to guide our decision, and only through the use of data can we give such an input. So at this point I’m not too sure. So I’ve read that there is the potential, possibility, likelihood, and danger of seepage of sewage ponds. And obviously there are different types and so forth.”
Reporter
“You’ve never had any such concern from that particular one?”
Anthony Mai
“Not from that particular one. I think a component of that project is concrete in terms of funds. I know that an upgrade, we granted environmental clearance for an upgrade a couple of years ago, maybe five, six years. The upgrade included the installation of I think a dry bed. And I think they lined one of the ponds and they also included UV light for disinfecting the waste before it goes into the environment. So there have been some improvement to that facility over the years.”
Reporter
“You know how big they are?”
Anthony Mai
“I can’t say from the top of my head, but we have the data in the office in terms of the size of the pond.”
Villagers of Indian Creek find themselves in the middle of a legal battle with the Maya Leaders Alliance and the Toledo Alcaldes’ Association. The underlying cause is that they’re stuck between a C.C.J. ruling that binds them to tradition and the government system that allows them to develop. Today, the village council held a meeting to say that they reject the legal steps that the M.L.A. has taken to reverse their election of an alcalde and deputy alcalde last November and to reinstate the previous village officials who served in those capacities prior to then. Village Councilor Anselmo Cholom said the reason they chose new alcalde leaders was because the previous ones stuck to the doctrine of the M.L.A., which impedes development in their village.
Anselmo Cholom
Anselmo Cholom, Member, Indian Creek Village Council
“The people that are leading the Maya people are dividing us in a way where they did not respect the decision of the community that happens at the community center. That’s what we want to [talk] about. And then to see that tradition that we’re practicing – when I am a Mayan person, I practice traditions. That doesn’t mean that I cannot get development. That doesn’t mean that I cannot get a concrete building and stay within a thatch building. It doesn’t keep me away from advancing. That’s basically what I’m talking about.”
Marion Ali
“But it’s not that you want to detach or divorce yourselves from the communal land system that has been in a part of the tradition for decades, centuries?”
Anselmo Cholom
“Yes, but if it is that the Maya leaders don’t leave the community in Indian Creek, then what is the sense that we practice, that we are there? What is the sense if we don’t want to – if they don’t want to allow us for development? Because that’s what basically the previous Alcalde was doing from not having development. So what is the sense to keep stuck in something that we don’t want to move away? We have to give up. We have to give up on that. We cannot being slave. We have to get out of that and if we have to get out of a communal system because of that, then we have to change.”
Following the election of Jose Choc and Felipe Sam as Alcalde and Deputy Alcalde, respectively, the Attorney General’s ministry declared both men duly elected officials of the village. But he informed the villagers on August fifteenth of the M.L.A.’s civil suit, challenging the installation of Choc and Sam. The women who spoke today, Jessica Ack and Silvania Maquin, vehemently opposed the reinstatement of the previous alcaldes and gave their reasons why.
Jessica Ack
Jessica Ack, Resident, Indian Creek Village
“I just want to ask, if these people come back in power, do you think that they will cooperate with the village council when we want development in our community? (Crowd shouts “No”) So this is the reason why we do not want these people. We want that Mr. Manuel Ak and Mr. Nicholas Choc to stay as alcalde and deputy alcalde.”
Silvania Maquin
Silvania Maquin, Resident, Indian Creek Village
“They will not work, they will not cooperate with our chairman, and I have seen it. And the beginning of this problem is not just today. It started when we were to bring – when this prince was to come in this village, there is where the problem started. There is where this village is divided in two. And from that day forward, this M.L.A. system is brainwashing these alcaldes that they want them back again. And we don’t want these two sets of alcaldes in the village.”
Indian Creek has a population of around fifteen hundred residents, and today’s meeting had less than a hundred persons in attendance. In no way did it reflect a majority position, based on numbers, but Cholom assured that they have the support of the masses. Considering the possibility of a court ruling in favour of the M.L.A., one of the elders, Miguel Ack, shared a likely scenario since they refuse to give up their current alcalde rulers.
Miguel Ack
Miguel Ack, Elder, Indian Creek Village
“(Speaking in Kek’chi Maya…we never had any issue within our Maya community to have to go to a high court. If we have any issue within the Maya, we solve it within the Maya community center. (Cheers) We can even end up killing each other if we continue with the MLA division. Now is the time to make a decision and resolve the matter. Now, the current, we will not change them.” (Cheers)
Thirty-eight-year-old Brandon Bowen, a well-known street figure, walked away from a charge of abetment to robbery when he appeared before the lower court today. In June 2023, Bowen was accused of robbing the cashiers at Belize Healthcare Partners Limited of an undisclosed sum of money. This morning, in the presence of attorney Ellis Arnold, it was successfully argued that there was no evidence linking Bowen to the crime. With that, the charge was dismissed and he was free to go. Of note, is that the identity of the other individual who participated in the robbery was never released and no one was ever charged for the actual robbery.
The 2024 carnival season is in full swing. We are on the heels of the Miss Carnival Pageant that took place on Saturday night inside the Belize City Civic Center. Soca Moca was declared the winner in the senior mas band category. Jump Street Junior Band won in the junior category. With that event now behind us, carnival bands across the city are gearing up for upcoming events, including the highly anticipated Carnival Road March. Over the weekend, News Five’s Paul Lopez visited the Trench Town Masqueraders to get a glimpse into their practice session. He brings us that story in tonight’s installment of Kolcha Tuesday.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
For the past thirteen years Patricia Flowers has been leading the Trench Town Masqueraders in Saint Martin De Porres.
Patricia Flowers
Patricia Flowers, Leader, Trench Town Carnival Band
“I have been dancing since I was five, then you know your kids grow up and you don’t want to be in the same category, so I decided to do my own, because for the love of carnival, you don’t want to take it out of you.”
We paid a visit to Flowers and her band during their practice session on Oleander Street in preparation for the upcoming Carnival Road March. The atmosphere was energetic. The revelers were fully engaged in their choreography. Several people from within the community were present simply to spectate and feed off the high energy.
Patricia Flowers
“The only thing that has changed with carnival is people loving carnival for being carnival. Back then nobody fights over carnival. Anybody could have stood up at anybody’s band. You could have done anything, but today’s day carnival turns into a fight.”
Over the years, the competition between carnival bands has become fierce. With huge sponsorship and coveted bragging rights on the line, being declared the best of the best during the carnival season comes with its perks. Angie Pineda has been embracing the carnival spirit from the age of ten. Pineda’s commitment to this carnival group has seen her transition from the junior to the senior band.
Angie Pineda
Angie Pineda, Reveler, Trench Town Carnival Band
“So it feels very thrilling, very energetic. I feel so happy. It feels like you are in your own little bubble, you are being your own little person. It is something I really like and it is like there is no negativity in it at all. So, it is just a fun way, it is just basically energetic.”
Paul Lopez
“Is there anything you need to do or have to be a good reveler?”
Angie Pineda
“No, as shocking as may look if you just look at me you wouldn’t think I can dance or anything. I have gotten that a lot. When I was younger it was the same way. I didn’t know to dance really good. But they taught me. So you don’t have to be a good dancer or a dancer at all. We teach you and you just come along and you will be great.”
2024 is the third year that Trench Town Masqueraders is organizing a senior band. Many of the revelers, like Pineda, spent most of their childhood years competing at the junior level in this very group. Flowers decided to establish a senior section as a natural progression. We also engaged Chantel Serano, another reveler, during our visit. As a true testament to the unity that exists within carnival bands, Serano says she offers her time to assist where necessary.
Chantel Serano
Chantel Serano, Reveler, Trench Town Carnival Band
“When it comes to Trench Town, we want to bring things to the way it was back then where it is not about what you wear. Of course, you want to look your best and everything, but what you can expect from Trench Town is that you are going to see the family bond. You are going to see everyone smiling, having fun, clean fun of course. We have a lot of these girls who work very hard. They have their jobs, go to school, our group consists of a lot of people who have a lot going on. So, when they come out here, this is their free up, their release.”
But the longstanding carnival culture that comes alive during the September celebrations is by no means perfect. When we interviewed Band Leader, Patricia Flowers on Sunday she was still distraught over the results of the Miss Carnival Pageant the night before.
Patricia Flowers
“I mean everybody just the kill the love of carnival.”
Paul Lopez
“What do you mean by fight?”
Patricia Flowers
“Literal Facebook post bashing each other, after events having fights, it doesn’t make any sense.”
Paul Lopez
“How do you feel about that?”
Patricia Flowers
“Frustrated, mad and I can’t even explain the rest.”
Paul Lopez
“Are you all deciding to compete this year?”
Patricia Flowers
“After last night I have two minds, because fairness in carnival is also dead. I used to be a quite person, and after the years of carnival I can’t be quiet anymore, because what you see and what you put in, fair is fair. We all work hard.”
Paul Lopez
“Is this the most frustrating year for you yet?”
Patricia Flowers
“In the events yes. In the parts with sponsorship and so. I am use to it. I have been through tribulations, trials, drama and I still come out carnival day.”
The Belize Police Department is taking steps towards inclusivity and accessibility by training officers in sign language. For one week, thirty officers from across Belize city will engage in valuable lessons so they can better communicate with deaf or hard of hearing victims and community members. Today, News Five’s Britney Gordon stopped by the Queen Street Police Station to see how the officers were doing on day two of the classes. Here’s the story.
Rasheed Coleman
Rasheed Coleman, Police Ser, Family Violence Unit
“It’s R-A-S-H-E-E-D. Rasheed.”
Britney Gordon, Reporting
Upon meeting someone, a name is usually the first thing you learn about them. Sharing your name can be the beginning of a friendship, a relationship and the beginning of trust. But for many people that are deaf or mute, they are unable to take that first step to establishing that connection with police officers because they are expressing it in a language the officers does not speak. That disconnect is changing now that members of the Belize Police Department are learning how to speak sign language. A.C.P. Howell Gillett, National Commander of the the Community Policing Unit spoke with us about the importance of making this effort.
A.C.P. Howell Gillett
A.C.P. Howell Gillett, Nat’l Commander, Community Policing Unit
“We have the community policing officers, and we also have the officers from the family unit. Those are the ones who take complaints of a sexual nature. from victims. So it’s important for them to be able to speak with these people who are have hearing impairment, who have who are mute. So if we are to truly be policing the entire population, we have to include those with special needs.”
Whether someone is hurt or in fear is vital information for police officers to know, but the communication barrier between hearing officers and deaf or mute victims is difficult to overcome without an interpreter. This is especially challenging with small children who cannot write yet. With assistance from the Stella Maris School, officers are working to overcome this barrier. Sign instructor, Erlett Thomas says that this is a challenge that has always existed for the community.
Erlett Thomas
Erlett Thomas, Sign Language Instructor
“I have worked with ministry of education for the past thirty-odd years. And one of the things that we would sometimes we would get children or past students, youths who have been to the police station for a while and because of the inability to communicate with them, they end up being there for a long while and sometimes it’s something simple that could have been solved by just by communicating with them. So I think it’s extremely important that the police officers learn how to communicate with people who are deaf and also to identify when they are deaf so that they can use whatever they need to use to get a message across to them.”
After completing the initial phase of the training, officers will return in a few weeks to for more advanced lessons.
Erlett Thomas
“We’re trying to work with words that will suit the police department. So we’re doing basic now. They’re learning the alphabet and numbers because it’s extremely important for you to learn your alphabet. If you can’t sign something, you can spell it out and the person, the deaf person, will understand what you’re saying. Versus you just stand there and you do nothing. That’s So you spell out the word, and then you can continue. Even if I am talking to someone who is deaf and I don’t know the sign for the word, I can spell the word and I’ll tell them, sign that word for me and they will sign the word for me and we will continue with the conversation.”
The officers have been receptive to the training and the police sergeant in the family violence unit is proud of the progress that she has made so far. She says that everything learnt will be used to make her better at her job.
Britney Gordon
“What’s one thing that you’ve learned that stood out to you so far that you feel you’ll be taking back into your job?”
Rasheed Coleman
“Everything. Everything. We’re starting from scratch and some of us were completely clueless. And so definitely everything.”
