G.O.B. Paid for Private Belmopan Land in 3 Tranches

On Monday, the Government of Belize sought to clarify information surrounding the purchase of fifteen acres of private land for use as the proposed location for the construction of a tertiary level hospital in Belmopan.  While the property was bought for almost seven million dollars, the Minister of Health and Wellness told reporters that the financial transaction with businessman Kenny Zheng was completed in three instalments.

 

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health & Wellness

“The government did not buy the land in just one payment.  There was a down payment.  It was done in three payments, actually.  It’s a standard purchasing agreement, a down payment was made in June.  In July, another instalment was made and then the balance was paid off.  Now let me also give the rationale as to why this happened.  As you know, when dealing with the IFIs and the multinationals and these loans, if you are going to construct any facility or any loan that is being had for any investment within, in the case of the hospital, the property must be under the Government of Belize.  Ownership must be had. Time is also of essence and we need to ensure that the work and the project gets done.  We’re not going to be, and I am saying this here because I am not going to be like the former Minister of Health who got up there, boasted, had big pump and circumstance about a thirty-million-dollar grant funding, which he ended losing, for building the hospital.  We are making sure it goes through the right process and we are following the condition of the loan agreement. Minister Julius Espat was very clear in his response when it was asked of him and similarly, if you look at the road network that would have to have been invested alone, you’re talking about close to seven million dollars just in the nine-mile stretch of road.  You also have to understand that in addition to that, as the technocrats at BWS have said, you’re going to have to invest another two point five million dollars in terms of getting the water and sewerage system in place.”