October, 2024 - Channel 5 Belize

Guatemalans Accused of Bribing and Surrounding BDF Soldiers at Machakilha

BDF told to Stand Their Ground as “Hostile” Guatemalans Surround Them

On September 7, a group of Belize Defence Force soldiers found themselves surrounded by more than 10 possibly armed and hostile Guatemalans near Machakilha Conservation Post (CP). The last order that the patrol at the CP received from Fairweather Camp before communication was lost was “man your grounds.”

News 5 Digital has obtained a copy of the “Machakilha Patrol Report.”

Soldiers reportedly became on edge after realising that they were being surrounded by possibly armed and hostile Guatemalans that had gathered near the helicopter landing site. Their intent, it is believed, was to retrieve the 5 Guatemalan men who were caught conducting illegal logging activities in the Columbia River Forest Reserve.

The sun had begun to set. Communication with Fairweather Camp in Punta Gorda Town had been lost. It is believed that the BDF soldiers were outnumbered and outgunned.

At around 6:30 p.m., soldiers heard 2 gunshots from a distance.

The patrol commander made the “tactical decision” to release the 5 detainees along with 2 of the 4 chainsaws to “de-escalate the situation, providing a win for both parties involved.” The decision was also made to prevent the loss of lives on both sides.

Due to the change in circumstances, the original mission, which was to destroy two wooden bridges that were illegally built by Guat emalans in the Columbia River Forest Reserve, was abandoned.

On September 28, we tracked down the Minister of National Defence and Border Security, Florencio Marin Jr., at a People’s United Party event in Belize City. We asked him about the incident. He said, “Yes, I’m aware. And I think if you notice that every time our soldiers encounter these things; they take the appropriate action to discourage them, to remove the Guatemalans, whatever it is, but to be able to stop it, you know.”

Guatemalans Caught Illegally Logging in Belize, Again

A BDF patrol departed en route to Machakilha Conservation Post (CP) on September 6. Their mission was to destroy two wooden bridges that had been built by Guatemalans in the same area in the Columbia River Forest Reserve where the previous bridges had been built.

The following day on September 7, the patrol, after an arduous 18-hour trek through the dense jungle, stumbled upon the scene of an illicit timber activity. At around 1 p.m., near the Machakilha Conservation Post, soldiers heard the unmistakable buzz of chainsaws. Their instincts were right—illegal Guatemalan loggers were hard at work. With precision, they closed in on 56-year-old Santiago Gomez and his 17-year-old son, both caught red-handed with piles of valuable timber some 600 meters in Belize. The logs were ready for transport. None could provide an official form of identification. The older Gomez was informed that they are being recorded to protect their human rights and that a search will be conducted for weapons and ammunition. None were found.

But that was just the beginning.

As the patrol pressed on, they intercepted a Guatemalan family in a modified Toyota 4×4 truck—rigged for smuggling logs across the border. The family was intercepted in a “truck-o-pass,” a term used by Guatemalans for the illegally built roads. It basically means where the trucks can pass. The family consisted of 36-year-old Juan Jose Garcia, his wife, 29-year-old Lydia Ramirez, and their two children, ages 4 and 12. Again, they could not produce any official form of identification. They were relocated to the rally point.

The family was part of a larger group involved in this lucrative but illegal operation. Not far away, more Guatemalans were arrested and detained. They were chainsaw operators: 47-year-old Emilio Chun, 29-year-old Oscar Gomez, the son of Santiago Gomez (the first chainsaw operator), and 24-year-old Ariel Garcia.

None of the detainees showed signs of resistance. Juan Jose Garcia was suspected to be the “Boss” on the ground, but the real mastermind—known only as “Salvador”—remains elusive.

During the search, only Ariel Garcia, Santiago Gomez, and Emilio Chun admitted they knew they were in Belize. Chun, speaking in Spanish, said he wasn’t doing anything wrong, explaining that he is poor with no job, land, or resources.

The patrol commander decided to release Lydia Ramirez and her two children. Santiago Gomez gave permission for his son to return with Ramirez. They were escorted to the border.

The five Guatemalan men, including the chainsaw operators and the vehicle driver, who was identified as the “Boss” of the group, were escorted to the CP.

For five years, these loggers have operated fearlessly within Belizean territory, harvesting prized woods like rosewood under Salvador’s command. The groups typically consist of a driver who is regarded as the boss on the ground and 4 to 5 chainsaw operators. It is believed that “Salvador” has more groups illegally operating near the CP.

It is also believed that they are from Las Lajas, a historic town situated in the central-western region of Neuquén Province, within the Department of Picunches. It is one of the oldest towns in the province, with a population of about 4,964 residents, according to the 2010 population census.

Chief of Staff for the B.D.F., Major Roberta Usher, confirmed that the Guatemalans were detained in Belize. She said, “We can confirm that the legal infrastructure, including the bridges, was identified within Belize, and in response, the proper protocols aligned with the confidence-building measures to ensure appropriate actions were taken.”

“Échame La Mano”

When the group of detained Guatemalans were being escorted to the CP, a conversation with leader Juan Jose Garcia was initiated by the patrol commander. During that conversation, Garcia tells him, “Échame la mano.” This means “Help me out.”

News Five Digital has obtained a signed report of the allegation (according to the soldier’s version of events) and a portion of an audio recording of the conversation. The word bribe is not heard in any language.

According to the document, Jose Juan Garcia allegedly attempted to bribe the soldier, who refused multiple attempts. He informed Garcia that he would follow all protocols. During the conversation, Garica disclosed details about the illegal logging operation, which included four sub-bosses working for Salvador. But the real bombshell? According to the report, Garcia confessed to bribing commanders at the CP to continue his illegal activities. He even provided descriptions of those involved.

The report states, “Jose Juan Garcia made mention that he has been operating within the AO (area of operation) for almost 5 years and that he has bribed most of the commanders at the CP. He gave a brief description of the commanders who he had lately bribed and had mentioned… He described an African-descent individual who accepted his bribe and one that did not. He also mentioned about one Spanish-descent commander who was recently at that location and did not accept his bribe.”

The CP commander and the patrol commander are two different individuals.

The patrol commander made the decision to release the detainees. Officially, he is being accused of failing to carry out his duties by not destroying the bridges. Unofficially, he is being accused of taking a bribe. The patrol commander and his team were searched. No money or illegal items were found on their person.

When asked about the bribery allegations, Minister Marin seemed caught off guard. “This is the first I’m hearing of this,” he said, adding that any illegal structures are usually taken down immediately unless the Organization of American States is involved.

If the allegations of bribery are true, it would point to deep-rooted corruption on the ground that allows Guatemalans to operate freely on Belizean soil. Major Usher says they are investigating.

Outdated Communication Equipment?

The September 7 confrontation at Machakilha was compounded by a reported radio malfunction.

The Belize Defence Force uses Harris and VHF radio for communication. The Harris radio, made by L3Harris Technologies, is a secure, rugged communication device used by military and emergency services. It offers encryption, long-range, multi-frequency, and GPS for critical operations. The VHF radio is a powerful and versatile communication device, designed for use in a variety of professional settings. However, on the day of the incident, communication using both radios failed. Communication could not be established on the VHF radio, and the Harris radio eventually “went out of sync.”

The BDF’s Fairweather Camp in Punta Gorda Town was informed that the CP was being surrounded by “potentially hostile” Guatemalans, seemingly intent on retrieving the detained men. The response from Fairweather was “man your grounds.” Communication then failed as the Harris radio lost sync, leaving the patrol without communication. Attempts to restore contact failed.

Another attempt to report the situation via the Harris radio at 9:30 p.m. was unsuccessful, and the patrol harboured for the night, departing the next morning.

We asked Minister Marin if the BDF’s communication equipment is out of date and in need of replacing.

Continued Incursions by Brazen Guatemalans

Belize’s border with Guatemala is porous. This makes it impossible for Belize authorities to guard and monitor the border for continuous periods. Not to mention the lack of resources to do so. Guatemalans, especially those living near the border, know this. They also know that Belize Defence Force soldiers conduct routine patrols in the area with the aim to prevent and stop incursions.

In recent years, there has been an increase in reported incursions by Guatemalan peasants. They’ve gotten bolder. They’ve crept deeper into Belize. In March 2024, the BDF destroyed two wooden bridges constructed by Guatemalans inside the Columbia River Forest Reserve. These bridges were being used to facilitate illegal logging activities. The discovery of the bridges was made in late February. Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) brought the matter to public attention, saying that Guatemalans had also carved a road through the reserve. This road stretched some two kilometres into Belize. The bridges allowed trucks to access the area for timber extraction, likely involving valuable woods such as rosewood. Aerial surveillance revealed ongoing human activity, with visible timber stacks in the area. Back then, Deputy Commander of the B.D.F., Colonel Anthony Velasquez, told News Five, “We have increased active military presence in the area over this period to ensure that they do not return and continue their legal activities.”

That same month, another illegally built road stretching more than a kilometre into Belize was discovered. This time in the Chiquibul Forest. It was also built by Guatemalans. This road was being used by Guatemalan ranchers to access water for their cattle roaming Belize’s forest. The road, which originates from the Guatemalan side of the border, is believed to have been commissioned by wealthy cattle ranchers. Executive Director for FCD Rafael Manzanero said, “So we see that with heavy machinery, of course, those are more investments, and these are not really done by poor people along the adjacency zone, but more than likely, we believe they are by cattle ranchers in terms of trying to find an area where to get water.” In a separate interview with News Five, Col. Velasquez said, “It’s a road that was cleared by heavy machinery, so it’s a pretty open road.” Col. Velasquez added that patrols were sent to the area to closely monitor any movements and to detain anyone found there.

Raping Belize’s Resources

The Columbia River Forest Reserve is one of the most species-diverse areas in Belize. Previously managed mainly for timber extraction, the reserve is now recognised as a vital component of Belize’s National Protected Areas System. It serves as a crucial ecological haven that faces increasing threats from illegal logging, primarily by individuals crossing the border from Guatemala. This illegal activity not only disrupts ecosystems, endangers wildlife, and contributes to environmental degradation through habitat loss and soil erosion but also threatens the livelihoods of local communities that rely on the forest for sustainable living. The Belize Territorial Volunteers (BTV) have raised alarms after discovering significant illegal timber extraction, urging the Belizean government to increase patrols and collaborate with Guatemalan authorities to address the issue.

We also caught up with Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development. The Forest Department which manages the Columbia River Forest Reserve, falls under his ministry. According to Minister Habet, a flyover of the reserve showed multiple clearings.

Written by Digital Editor, Hipolito Novelo.

Patrick Faber Reflects on UDP at 51

Last week, the United Democratic Party (U.D.P.) marked its fifty-first anniversary, a significant milestone that comes at a crucial juncture in the party’s history. Party Leader Shyne Barrow took the opportunity to honor several loyal supporters who have steadfastly backed the U.D.P. through its highs and lows. Notably absent from his acknowledgments were Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber and Albert Area Representative Tracy Panton. Both politicians were expelled from the U.D.P. after forming the Alliance for Democracy, a faction dedicated to steering the beleaguered party back to its core mission of serving the Belizean people. What does this fifty-first anniversary signify for Faber and the Alliance? Earlier today, we had an exclusive interview with the former party leader, who shared his reflections on this landmark achievement.

Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet

“The fifty-first birthday of the party happened last week and I think, more than ever, we can say that at least two of those letters in the UDP don’t mean much or aren’t in full effect at this fifty-first birthday, the unity, certainly, and the democracy. And that is, indeed, something very sad. It is the very foundation upon which the UDP Alliance for Democracy is being put into action. Let me say for the record, clearly, first of all, that the UDP Alliance for Democracy is not a political party, in fact, we are very much UDP.”

Isani Cayetano

“Where do you see this going, in terms of the fact that you guys have been effectively expelled from the party and you’re staring down a general elections in 2025?”

Patrick Faber

“Well, it’s interesting that you should say that because we are not expelled from the party. We maintain, in fact, that anybody who would look objectively at the constitution would see that in fact expulsion comes one way through the party and through the constitution and that is by somebody making an allegation against you, sending it to the central executive of the party, the central executive then determining if there is any value to such a claim. Once it is valued, then it is sent to the ethics committee and you go through an entire procedure where one of, I think, four repercussions could come, one of them being expulsion.”

What Lies Ahead for the Alliance for Democracy’s Unity Convention?

The Alliance for Democracy is gearing up for a significant unity convention on October 20th, extending an invitation to all United Democratic Party (U.D.P.) delegates to join the event at Birds’ Isle. However, the U.D.P. leadership is pushing back with a counter-campaign, asserting that any decisions made by the Alliance are invalid, as the group and its members are no longer recognized as part of the party. What implications does this have for the Alliance’s future? We posed this question to Patrick Faber earlier this evening to gain his insights.

Isani Cayetano

“So, you’re eighteen days away from this Unity Convention. What are we looking at simply because while you guys may be mustering the support ahead of that particular event, there is a counter campaign being run, if I could describe it as such, where this pending activity is being written off as fake and holds no water in the UDP.”

Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet

“Well, I don’t see how it can be fake, and it can be tested very simply. You look at the constitution says, and you look at what we are doing. We have made every attempt to follow what the constitution says about these matters and if you look at their argument, you can see right through them that they do not follow the constitution. For instance, the constitution says that a third of the national convention membership can sign a petition to trigger a national convention. That was done. Two hundred and thirty-two delegates of the national convention signed a petition, that was dismissed by the chairman. The chairman has no authority. If somebody can find it in the constitution and show me where the chairman is allowed to reject a petition from the national convention, a right that is given to it by the constitution, then I’ll say we’re wrong. No leader, no chairman, no vice chairman, no central executive, no national party council, not even the national convention itself can supersede the constitution of the party. Why the convention is because that is the entity that can change the constitution if it feels the need to do so, as we did in March 2016.”

Can U.D.P. Secure Victory or Gain Ground in 2025 Under Shyne Barrow’s Leadership?

With General Elections set for 2025, the political landscape is heating up as both major parties prepare for the national vote. Over the weekend, the People’s United Party (P.U.P.) made a strong statement by formally unveiling its slate of thirty-one candidates, led by Prime Minister and party leader John Briceno. In contrast, the United Democratic Party (U.D.P.) is still in the process of filling all its seats for the upcoming election. This raises a critical question: What are the chances of the U.D.P. making significant inroads or even securing a victory under the leadership of Shyne Barrow? The political dynamics are certainly intriguing as we look ahead to the 2025 elections.

Isani Cayetano

“All things considered at this present juncture, what do you believe are the prospects of the U.D.P. going into 2025?”

Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet

“Our chances would increase tremendously with a new leader. Our chances would increase tremendously if the Honorable Tracy Taegar-Panton is our new leader. I need not tell you the details, I’m sure that as media people you follow these things, but you have seen, of course, the recent poll done by one of the companies of the Ashcroft Group and it is clear, like night and day that the Honorable Tracy Panton enjoys a certain popularity among voters of this country, and the reverse is true for Shyne Barrow. In fact, we didn’t need to make a poll to get that understanding. As I’ve been saying, you go to the market, you go to the gas station, yoh stop da di panades shop, yoh go da church, everywhere you go, people will tell you that the UDP cannot win with Shyne Barrow and that the UDP would tremendously improve its chances of winning, if we get rid of him as the leader. I’m not trying to mislead anybody into believing that the UDP would still not have an uphill battle if Shyne is not the leader, but I believe our chances would be much greater if he is not the leader.”

Faber Welcomes New Opponent in Collet

Devin Daly, a fresh face in the world of electoral politics, made his debut to the constituents of Collet on Friday. His candidacy was officially endorsed by the People’s United Party (P.U.P.) during a national party council meeting the following day. However, the real test lies ahead: How will this political newcomer fare against the well-established and seasoned politician Patrick Faber in his own stronghold? The upcoming contest promises to be an intriguing battle of experience versus new energy.

Isani Cayetano

“Last week, a young man, Devin Daly, came forward offering himself as a standard bearer for the PUP in Collet. How do you view his foray into electoral politics, you being a five-time area representative.”

Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet

“Well, it’s like I’ve said, somebody has got to run. We are happy to have an opponent and we know who that opponent is. I’m not going to say anything unkind about him at this point. He comes from a UDP family, and a family that has been very supportive of the Patrick Faber camp. I don’t know that there are necessarily any negatives that he can say about me. This is the nature of the game. So, it’s no threat to us. We know that there has to be an opponent and we welcome the new opponent.”

Faber Weighs in on Coke Stash Found on Andre Perez’s Boat

On Saturday morning, the news of a suspected cocaine stash found on a boat owned by Belize Rural South Area Representative Andre Perez spread like wildfire. The Belize Police Department swiftly issued a statement detailing the circumstances of the discovery. Prime Minister John Briceño also addressed the situation, clarifying that although the drugs were found on Perez’s boat, the Minister of Blue Economy was not implicated in their concealment. Despite these assurances, public outcry is mounting, with many criticizing that Perez was let off the hook without a comprehensive criminal investigation.

Isani Cayetano

“What do you make of the news that came out over the weekend where a quantity of suspected cocaine was found inside a vessel belonging to the Belize Rural South Area Rep, the fact that both the police department and essentially the prime minister wrote it off as narcotics that did not necessarily belong to him, without, perhaps, delving into some form of an investigation to prove that so.”

Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet

“That is a very, very suspicious set of circumstances indeed and to just jump to that conclusion, I think, is dangerous for democracy. I think, as well, as public figures, and we’ve seen this time and time again, they expect us to be held to the greatest scrutiny and if I was in that situation and I knew that I was not a guilty person, I would encourage the authorities to do the necessary investigation because it is what will vindicate you ultimately. You don’t want it ever to seem that you are being given, under those circumstances, any kind of special consideration. And when the authorities, you are right, because as soon as that happened, I heard the Commissioner of Police saying, “Listen, this is his boat but this doesn’t necessarily connect to him. In fact, I don’t even think it was like that. It was more said in a definitive manner that this was not connected to the minister and I don’t know how in such an early part of the game they could have determined that.”

More Than 130 Teachers Have Not Been Paid Their Salaries

The Belize National Teachers Union has raised a red flag, revealing that over one hundred and thirty teachers have not received their salaries. Alarmingly, some have been without pay for as long as five months. What’s causing this dire situation? Union President Nadia Caliz admits that her team is still seeking answers. Today, she held a press conference, accompanied by several affected teachers, to shed light on their plight and demand urgent action.

Nadia Caliz, National President, BNTU

“This is the agreement that we had with the Ministry of Education that any teacher that needed to be removed off the system, the managing authority had to write the chief, Chief Gongora, and then she would address that up to the last time we checked, and this was like a week before payday, nobody got any notification that they will be removed or anything like that. And so when we learned on Thursday that a number of our teachers were not paid, we were like taken aback. But why is this so? Did the management submit what they needed to on all of that? But you see, as a responsible organization, we needed to do our own research, and that’s very important. Our investigation up to this point has revealed that our one hundred and thirty plus, because the numbers are still growing, you can’t find them any at all in the system. So, in order for those teachers to come off the system, somebody had to manually go in and remove them. So, who gave the other? That is our question. When we had an agreement, who disobeyed the agreement that we made with Minister Fonseca because he was in the meeting with us. Who disagreed? Who did that? Now, when you look at teachers suffering today, let me tell you what happened. And when you all started calling, I said, maybe this is God’s way for us to go. You know, begin to share with the Belizean public what educators are actually going through. A teacher this morning received a notification that her utilities will be disconnected and that spiraled from there. She had a breakdown.”

Teachers Working Without Receiving Salaries

We also heard from two teachers whose names have been removed from the government’s payroll system. Kimberly Lopez explained that she has not been paid by the government for the last five months. Janelle Cacho says she left the classroom in January after her license expired because she did not meet her one hundred and twenty CPD hours. And even though she returned to the classroom in June, she did not receive her salary until August. Now, she is still waiting for her September pay, while her home is facing foreclosure, as a single mom.

Kimberly Lopez, Primary School Teacher

“First of all, I want to say I haven’t been paid for five months. So, I haven’t been paid since May. Way before all of this happened, before my license got expired, I was sending in emails to verify how many CPD hours I had. I was waiting, waiting, when I finally got they told me that I only had thirty-two hours. Now you tell me, I’ve been teaching for years. Always doing workshops. How will I only have, have thirty-two hours? So I went into the system, find all my documents, like how my colleagues said. I went and I dig out on some boxes. I found my certificates. I send it in. And that’s how I ended up getting my hours. I had to be behind them until I finally got my license all the way in July. So until just July I got my license. So, since I got my license, I thought I’m going to get my salary back. When I waited, went back into the classroom, I still haven’t received any salary. So all these months I’m still waiting, no salary.”

Janelle Cacho, Primary School Teacher

“I did not get my salary until August, ending of August. Now bear in mind school reopens in September. And I was there, you know, trying to figure out how am I going to get my class ready. But I still managed to do something, you know, during that time there. But I received my salary until, until August. And of course, you know, it’s back pay, retro. So it was fully taxed, you know. So it’s like I was receiving just a pittance of what I should have had. So, for those months I have been out of a salary and it has caused just major distress and trauma and inconveniences on my part. You know, you have to function as a teacher but then, you know, as a person, how are you supposed to be functioning as a person to do your job if all of these things are hindering you. So it has been a really, really major setback and inconvenience for me over the past few months, you know, and I’m glad I’m still here, you know, but I think the ministry has to do better. There’s something happening there. I did not receive my salary for this month. I received in August. So I was surprised that I did not receive September.”

Nadia Caliz, “It is an Attack on Our Teachers and the BNTU”

President of the Belize National Teachers Union, Nadia Caliz, has placed the government on notice. She says, the union will not take this lying down. She described it as an attack on the union.

Nadia Caliz, National President, BNTU

“If Janelle doesn’t get paid, Janelle lose her home. And that is not something that is sitting well with us at all. She has a very nice loan officer right now who did not put her home out there. But it’s about to hit foreclosure. And then I’m thinking of the teacher that collapsed this morning. They see a system, oh, next month, for them it’s simple, because they have a salary. They don’t understand what it’s like not to have money.”

Reporter

“You are manually taking them off? Why?”

Nadia Caliz

“We don’t get it either. That’s the reason why I said it’s an attack on our teachers and an attack on the BNTU It is, right? So that’s the reason I’m saying that. So that’s how we view this situation. And we’re not going to sit here and take it lying down. Yes, as I said, we have been able to agree to a number of things, solve a number of issues. And we recognize all of that and we thank them, and we still have to sit down and discuss some more on some of these things, but no teacher in this country should work, not be paid at the end of the month. They should not be acting like beggars, begging for payment, begging for advance, trying to figure it out. And then on top of that, some of them are being insulted that cannot continue.”

Former Mayor Sharon Palacio Says She Is Not Sorry

In a bold and unapologetic stance, former Belmopan Mayor Sharon Palacio has defended her decision to allocate lands to impoverished citizens at significantly reduced prices during her time in office. In a detailed written statement to the media, Palacio passionately explained her motivations behind what has now been dubbed the “land giveaway” in the Capital City. She accused the current council of attempting to tarnish her legacy, which she proudly claims, “empowered the disenfranchised”. Adding a personal touch to the story, we also heard from one of the land recipients who has now agreed to pay the full market value for the property. He expressed his belief that the entire process was conducted with utmost transparency. News Five’s Paul Lopez brings us more to this developing story.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Former Belmopan Mayor Sharon Palacio has broken her silence on a land grab scandal that occurred in the Capital City under her leadership. The council issued dozens of lands in Innovabel Estate at rates that saw as much as ninety-five percent discounts. A leaked document from within the council reveals that many of Palacio’s relatives and former council colleagues received land at these discounted prices. In a statement to the media today, Mayor Palacio said, quote, “I was glad that I was able to help ordinary Belizeans who would never have been able to get a piece of land in Belmopan in general or at Innovabel in particular”, unquote. As we have reported, current Mayor Pablo Cawich has issued a public plea for these land title holders to visit City Hall and make the necessary arrangements to pay off the discounted balance. One individual on the list of recipients is Belmopan Resident, Kahlil Enriquez, who gave us an off-camera interview. He says that he approached the council about acquiring a parcel of land in Belmopan upon his return from studying overseas. He was offered a lot in Innovabel Estate.

Voice of: Kahlil Enriquez, Innovabel Land Recipient

“The initial deal was that the land was valued at twenty thousand dollars, and I would get a discount at twenty -five percent so my total payment would be fifteen thousand dollars. So, after paying fifteen thousand I would be given title to this property. But a lot of persons believe that I paid fifteen hundred dollars and received title for this land. That is simply not what happened. I made a payment arrangement with the former council, and I renewed that arrangement with the current council. I am committed to paying the full value of the land which is almost twenty thousand dollars. So, I have already paid towards this parcel which I intend to own soon. As the document presented to you shows, I have been making payments and I will not receive title until the entire sum, the entire value is paid. I don’t want the impression to be that I benefited from an illegal land transaction, because that is simply not the case.”

In her statement to the media, Mayor Palacio referred to these land distributions under her tenure as her legacy. She wrote, “I am not surprised that the current Mayor and his cohorts are investing time and energy trying to erase and minimize my legacy: that is empower the disenfranchised. I am also not surprised that lands which were ill gotten by the wealthy will never see the light of day. Poor people need land too”. Enriquez says he came forward to clear his name, given that it was on the leaked document.

Kahlil Enriquez

“From my understanding this is the actual price of the land and the council has been losing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the persons not paying their fair share for these properties. So I want to uphold my integrity and do the right thing by paying my fair share of what the land is worth, which is close to twenty-thousand dollars. That is what I believe I must do. I want to make it unequivocally clear that I did not participate in any land grab or transaction. I wanted to legitimately own my first parcel of land in Belmopan.”

Referring to herself in the third person, Palacio’s release further stated, “Mayor Sheran Palacio has not gained a single copper from any land allocated to any of the current owners”, her statement further noted. “As an altruistic stateswoman you will see that the recipients included persons from all ethnicities, color, gender and political persuasion”, she went on to say, adding, “you can check the records. And for this, I will stand firm unapologetically. My motto and mantra shall remain change from the heart. This was the spirit under which these lands were allocated”. She also encouraged these landowners to quote, “hold fast, band together, organize and get ready for whatever lies ahead”. And, what lies ahead is yet to be determined by current Mayor Pablo Cawich.

Pablo Cawich, Mayor, Belmopan

“It has not happened as yet. As you know the news just broke, or the details just broke out yesterday. So, no further discussions as with any thing with process or reproductions or anything like that.”

Paul Lopez

“Has these details pushed your team to consider any sort of legal recourse or court action with the former Mayor?”

Pablo Cawich

“As I have expressed recently, court action is not something we want to explore as yet. It is not something we want to explore until we are given the go ahead by our legal counsel. From the inception of this news with Innovabel issue we have harped on saying that our primary focus is to collect the proper funds that are due.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez