Belmopan City Council Investigates Innovabel Estate Land Distribution

Would you pay more for a property if such a request is made after you have already received the title? The Belmopan City Council is pleading with individuals who purchased a parcel of land in Innovabel Estate at a discounted price under former Mayor Sharon Palacio to visit the council and pay the balance. Those titles were issued before the former mayor demitted office. An investigation conducted by the current council revealed that while the properties were valued at twenty thousand dollars, some individuals paid as little as a hundred dollars and received their titles, while others paid two thousand dollars. The investigation also revealed that former city councilors were in the mix and that some individuals received as much as eight parcels of land at a discounted rate. While no names were mentioned, Mayor Pablo Cawich spoke with reporters today as the council is pleading with these titleholders to visit the office and work out a payment plan to defray the balance, even though they are not legally obligated to. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the story.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

On March eighth, 2024, two days after the municipal elections, former Belmopan Mayor Sharon Palacio held a ceremony where she distributed titles for parcels of land in Innovabel Estate. This would be her swan song before demitting office.

 

File: Mar 8,2024

Sharon Palacio, Former Mayor, Belmopan

“I must say it was quite a journey to be where we are today and the families are overjoyed to receive their titles. We have many more who are receiving. We have thirty plus more who have paid over fifty percent, and we have some who have just finished paying everything.”

 

 

 

In her interview, she said that the new titleholders paid over fifty percent while others paid in full. The former mayor, however, did not reveal how much they paid. Seven months later, her successor, Mayor Pablo Cawich, says that most of these titleholders paid well below the value of the lands. A release from the Belmopan City Council notes that while the Innovabel parcels were valued at close to twenty thousand dollars each, in some cases titleholders only paid two thousand dollars.

 

 

 

Pablo Cawich, Mayor, Belmopan

“Reviewing the accounts we started looking at the valuation of some of those lands in the Innovabel area and some of the payments that have been received and we had noticed that, and the two thousand is just an example, there were different percentages of discount to different people.”

 

 

 

Just an example, according to Mayor Cawich, as he confirmed that some of the lots sold for as low as one hundred dollars. He also confirmed that a former councilor received as many as eight parcels of land.

 

Reporter

“And relatives of the former mayor, the were also getting some of these land deals?”

 

Pablo Cawich

“Most of them was just one, but there are people who did receive a few. There are people who received different ranges. For example, one of the relatives I think that person got around sixteen, eight not sixteen. The entire Innovabel project when it came to the entire land distribution and sales had approximately just under two million dollars lose in revenue.”

 

Mayor Cawich clarified that many of the properties sold in Innovabel Estate were sold at true value, but at least one hundred were sold at these grossly discounted rates. The council is now working to recoup those losses.

 

 

 

Pablo Cawich

“The stance that we have taken with every single recipient is that we are not attempting to take away anyone’s opportunity. If for example you have received eight parcels all we are asking you to do is to create a payment plan to ensure you are paying the full value of the land.”

 

 

 

We spoke off camera with one titleholder who paid two thousand dollars to receive his title for a parcel of land in the Innovabel Estate. He is a former city council employee who was given his walking papers last Friday because he failed to respond to a letter from the city administrator requesting that he pay an additional seventeen thousand dollars. Similar letters were sent out to every individual that received the discount.  In this specific case, the individual is also being accused of facilitating the transactions.

 

Voice of: Former City Council Employee

“As far as their letter written to me, it indicated that the land, which Ms. Palacio sold to me was valued at two thousand dollars. I mean come on, which other minister and other people have not assisted their friends in obtaining a piece of land for far cheaper than that. For us poor people, if it is not for help or intervention, we would never be able to own a piece of land. According to them the transfer paper indicated that it was at a thousand dollars plus.  Now was I wrong that I did not read through the paper, maybe. But at this time I trust what the council is doing. I was only asked to sign. I was given the paper. It was folded. I was given and instructed to take it to lands, which I did and a few months later I obtained my tittle. That gives me the right to that parcel. As far as I know, all transactions were done. As far as I know, all transactions were done and the council had no more issues with me and no reason to receive that document and bear in mind I received a receipt of zero balance, meaning that I owe nothing to the council.”

 

Pablo Cawich

“In a case where some of the employees who had received grossly discounted lands, what we explained to them is that you knowingly and willingly participated in a program that cost a loss of revenue to the council. Loss of assets to any company or organization is a serious offense. We asked these individuals to please justify your participation and explain why we should still have trust in you. Most of them responded except two.”

 

A second city council employee was also terminated on similar grounds the very same day.  Mayor Cawich concedes that none of the titleholders are legally obligated to make any further payments. He says however that he is pleading to their sense of morals and ethics.

 

Pablo Cawich

“It is a reality that we are aware of, but as mentioned we are hoping that as good citizens and as good Belizeans their ethics and morals will drive them to ensure that they do pay the true value of the lands.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.