Economy - Channel 5 Belize

Adaptability & Grit Keeping PG Business Open 90 Years Later

The phrase ‘Swimming with the Tide’ perfectly captures the spirit of the small family in our next story. It’s about a mother and son, the last two leaders of a business in Punta Gorda that has weathered fierce competition and adapted to change over the past several years, just as it has over nine decades of existence. Over the years, the family business, which started as the largest retail grocery and hardware store in Punta Gorda, had to move three times because the buildings became too old to be safe. You’ll meet the mom, who was once a customer and is now a key part of the success story, and her son, whose education has been crucial in keeping the business thriving today. This week’s edition of Belize on Reel brings you the history of the family business that evolved from a huge dry goods store in the 1930s to a pharmacy and stationery store still serving P.G. and its surroundings. Here’s News Five’s Marion Ali.

Marion Ali, Reporting

Meet Nigel Vernon, a trained pharmacologist, who owns and is licensed to operate NJV’s Pharmacy on Front Street in Punta Gorda. Nigel registered the pharmacy back in 2009, and for the past fifteen years, he has been running it alongside his mom, Betty Coleman. The pharmacy is just the latest chapter in the story that Nigel’s grandfather, George Vernon, began ninety years ago.

Nigel Vernon, Owner, NJV’s Pharmacy

“I did not know my grandfather. He passed away in 1982. I was just about two and a half years old.”

Nigel’s mother, Betty Coleman, hails from Guatemala, where her Belizean mother and Guatemalan father lived. It was during those trips as a child that her parents took her to shop at the store.

Betty Coleman, Co-owner, NJV’s Pharmacy

“We used to pass by and you know, we used to go to the shop because it was the biggest shop, everybody, when I used to come and stay with my cousin in Forest Home, would say, let’s go to George Vernon’s Store.”

After George passed away, his son Vance began courting Betty. She moved to Belize in 1971 to be with him, and together they had four children, including Nigel. Betty reminisced about what daily life was like back when Vernon’s Store was still a cornerstone of the PG community.

Betty Coleman

“We used to sell almost everything you could think about, like alcohol, beverages. We used to sell flour, well groceries on a whole, building materials. We used to sell rum by pints. So we have to mix that in the morning, like by six, seven o’clock. We used to open and from then we start and we used to have some really hectic days because we used to have these boats come from Guatemala and they used to buy stuff like buy 50 cases, a hundred cases of soap or slim or cheese, all these things.”

But competition became fierce with the influx of the Asian community and to keep the business open after Vance died, Nigel put his studies to work. Betty isn’t a trained pharmacist like her son, but she learned the ropes from him and now qualifies to sell over-the-counter medication. Nigel, on the other hand, handles all the prescribed medications.

Betty Coleman

“I said I’m gonna be the cashier, but then I said, well, you know what, I could learn something. So, I went around looking at the medications and reading some of them to the back. I don’t sell the prescription drugs because that is his job. Yeah, and I don’t want to get charged for something.”

The pair chose to keep the last branch of the business not just to honor its long legacy, but because it made good business sense. They take great pride in the courteous service they offer, which keeps customers coming back.

Casalina Sho, Customer

“I always come right here. Mm-hmm.”

Marion Ali

“This is your favorite spot?”

Casalina Sho

“Yes. Yes. It’s good. Excellent.”

Joseph Ramclam Sr., Customer

“We used to live in the village up the road – Mafredi/San Antonio Road and my father used to take we down by the shop because he used to do business with them too, because he had a little petty shop up the road. And he used to buy his groceries from them to resell to at Mafredi. They have very good relationship with people and they work along with people good and very mannerly.”

Sherene Garay-Usher, Customer

“My grandmother passed away three decades ago, but dehn days we used to buy groceries there. It was the place where everybody used to go. The people that serve at the store were very friendly – always – Mr. Vernon to today. And so you feel welcome for goh at the store goh buy and I could say up to now.”

With the arrival of Asian-owned stores and supermarkets, competition became fierce. As Nigel’s father, Vance, grew older, he passed the business down to Nigel, who decided to study pharmacology and transition into that direction. But the Vernon brand is experiencing a similar challenge with viability because of more pharmacies in the community. So, Nigel is thinking about adding a new dimension to the business to boost its strength and stay competitive in the challenging market.

Nigel Vernon

“Just doing the same like what we have at the moment, but basically do it in herbal stuff instead of doing just chemical medication. You can’t stay in one business forever now because it doesn’t work that way anymore.”

Interestingly, even though he is a trained medical scientist, Nigel believes that natural medicine is better for the body.

Nigel Vernon

“I personally would take the herbs over the scientific medication.”

Marion Ali

“Over what you’re selling now?”

Nigel Vernon

“Yeah.”

Marion Ali

“Why?”

Nigel Vernon

“Well, to me, I see it works better. The thing is that you have to be consistent with the herbal stuff. You have to be consistent. You have to take it every day for a longer period of time, but you get better results than when you do just the regular medications that the doctors would prescribe. Yes, you do get better, but with what? Cause sometimes you have side effects with most of these medications. Sometimes we don’t treat the problem and we just want to put a band aid on it and say, “oh, okay, I’m better now.”

Nigel dreams of seeing the business thrive in the future and hopes to eventually pass the torch to a successor.

Nigel Vernon

“Try to keep it in family.”

Marion Ali

“Fourth generation?”

Nigel Vernon

“Working on that one. Not yet. (Laughs)”

Marion Ali for News Five.

Cab Sec and GOB C.E.O.s Get Salary Increase in New Term

The Government of Belize has approved salary increases for Cabinet Secretary Stuart Leslie and all Chief Executive Officers in the Briceño administration. The CabSec’s annual salary has been raised to ninety-six thousand dollars, while the CEOs’ salaries have been increased to eighty-eight thousand dollars. News Five obtained a memo where the Cabinet Secretary informed Financial Secretary Joseph Waight and the CEOs about the raises. The document noted that allowances for these positions remain unchanged. Interestingly, the last time government CEOs received a salary increase was in 2018. However, not everyone is pleased with the news. Leader of the Opposition Tracy Panton expressed her alarm. Paul Lopez has more details.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The Cabinet Secretary and Chief Executive Officers received a significant pay raise. A letter to Financial Secretary Joseph Waight, signed by Cabinet Secretary Stuart Leslie, outlines the increases. The Cabinet Secretary’s annual salary is now ninety-six thousand dollars, effective March thirteenth, just one day after the general election. CEOs will now earn eighty-eight thousand dollars a year, effective March eighteenth. Opposition Leader Tracy Panton expressed her alarm over these approved increases.

On the Phone: Tracy Taegar Panton, Leader of the Opposition

“I am a little alarmed, and I hope all Belizeans are too, because this is being done at a time when we don’t have an approved budget, when the government continues to operate with an unauthorized spending. Our fiscal year came to an end on March thirty-first. We should have in place by now a budget that was read and approved and dated. That is not the case. It is alarming because we have heard reports of front line workers, whose jobs it is to give service to the Belizean people, operating with subpar equipment in subpar conditions. It is alarming because we recently heard of a decision to release open vote workers who were employed at the Department of Youth Services and the Sports Department.”

This isn’t the first time CEO salaries have made headlines. In October 2022, their allowances were restored after being cut by fifty percent during the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, they were earning seventy-six thousand dollars annually. Cabinet Secretary Stuart Leslie noted that the last salary increase for CEOs was in 2018.

Stuart Leslie, Cabinet Secretary (File: Oct 28, 2022)

“2018 was the also time that C.E.O.’s got any salary increase, any increase in allowance or anything, 2018. In most jobs you go every ear people get increase. So, if you are talking about cost of living and so on, what we are earning right now is what the government believes a C.E.O. is worth in 2018. Think about this, a ministry like the Ministry of Education, three hundred million dollars, C.E.O. earns seventy-six thousand dollars, plus seven hundred and fifty dollars up until we restored her allowances to fifteen hundred dollars. You go all over the world and ask, C.E.O.’s in large cooperation’s managing far smaller budgets.”

Regarding the Cabinet Secretary’s signature on the document approving the salary increase, he told News Five today that his signature is just a formality. He explained that he doesn’t have the authority to set his own salary and didn’t push for an increase. The final decision lies with the Prime Minister, who is also the Minister of Finance and head of Cabinet. However, Opposition Leader Tracy Panton argues that without an established budget for the new fiscal year, these increases lack proper justification.

On the Phone: Tracy Panton

“When you enter the public service, while you should be compensated for your experience and expertise and what you bring to the table, your first duty should be to the people. So you enter public service understanding that you cannot be paid a private sector wage because we have to live within a budget that would be focused on delivering service to the people. We serve the people, the people don’t serve us and we have to get back to this idea that public service is about service to country and people and not the other way around. It is difficult for me to understand such increases out of context or any kind of framework as to what our national budget will look like.”

CEOs receive annual allowances that include one thousand, five hundred dollars per month for living and entertainment, and two hundred and fifty dollars per month for telephone expenses. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

P.S.U. Condemns Briceño Administration for “Shameless Self-Enrichment”

The Public Service Union (PSU) is condemning the Briceño Administration for a salary increase for the Cabinet Secretary and Chief Executive Officers that came into effect one day after the 2025 general elections. In a statement today, the P.S.U. highlighted that the salary increase comes amidst stagnant wages, withheld increments, and threats to the pensions of public officers across the country. President of the PSU Dean Flowers says that this salary increase comes as a disrespect to the union.

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“This came at us like a thief in the night. At no point in time did we envision this shameless act once again by the cabinet secretary on behalf of the CEO caucus and himself. What is even more damning, it doesn’t even says that cabinet approved. It just says we’re adjusting our salary pretty much. And I’m adjusting my salary and the and also the he kind adjust the CEO’s salary. There was no indication that this matter was tabled before coming out, that it came as a result of approval by the Prime Minister. Nothing to that extent. What’s even more surprising is that in our good faith conversation and discussions with the government negotiating team led by Honorable Cordel Hyde, deputy Prime Minister and and Minister of State Ministry of Finance, honorable Chris Coye, they would’ve given us their undertaken and their commitment that we will embark this administration will embark with the support and sponsorship of the IDB to undertake a comprehensive salary review and salary restructuring exercise. And so given that undertaking everybody’s salary would’ve been looked at and everybody, it is expected that everybody then would be compensated as fairly and as justly as is possible. So given that the government has given this undertaking to the PSU and the joint unions, It’s a disrespect to the entire collective bargaining process. It’s a disrespect to the government negotiating team in my view, because in essence they’re saying we don’t care what you’re doing on the larger scale. We’re looking after ourselves. And and this is what we want and this is what we get. And I guess this is another, come back on their end, considering that in the past we would have of course called for a reversal of certain decisions where their allowances were concerned.”

P.S.U. Demands 7.5 Percent Salary Increase for Public Officers

In the statement, the Public Service Union also estimated that the three increments owed to public servants by the government are equivalent to a seven-point-five percent salary adjustment. P.S.U. demands that the government make this adjustment, further estimating that approximately forty percent of public servants earn less than twenty thousand dollars annually. P.S.U. President, Dean Flowers elaborates on these demands.

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“Our calculation shows that the increases especially where the Cab Sec is concerned overs around fifteen percent We’re asking for half of that. We’re asking for a salary adjustment of seven point five percent and we’re not asking in the sense of begging for consideration, we’re saying to the government of Belize, whether it was under the UDP, whether it is under the PUP, you have withheld a minimum of sevent point five percent salary from public offices. So we’re demanding that seven point a half percent. We’re not asking to enter into negotiation for over seven point a half percent. We’re saying if you can give your CEO caucus and your cabinet secretary and by extension yourself, because there is no way any minister will continue to sit and watch the CEOs earn more than them. That’s foolish for one of us to think that the ministers will not get an equivalent salary adjustment. And so we’re saying, look, give us what we deserve and what you’ve withheld from us, our seven point a half percent, and that’s non-negotiable. We’re also saying in 2024, we signed our CBA. Our CBA was made effective 2021. We’ve had this conversation with the Ministry of Public Service to see you transferred persons up until 2024 at the rate of $one thousand two hundred in transfer grants. The CBA says, and the CBA is a legally binding document, and it again. It is for public officers to decide whether they wish to sue the government for these monies with interest included. And I want to take advantage one time and say, including those persons who are indebted at their income tax return, you have the right to sue with interest. So we’re saying to the government, we want you to pay those retro payments from 2021 to all public officers who were transferred that difference of three hundred dollars.”

When Will 2025 National Budget Debate Be Belize?

As the Leader of the Opposition mentioned, these salary increases are happening just before the 2025/2026 budget presentation. So, when will the meeting at the National Assembly take place? Panton says the opposition hasn’t received notice with the date yet.

On the Phone: Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition

“We have not at all. We have only heard what the prime minister has indicated in the public domain that he is looking somewhere in mid-May for a budget presentation. This is not the prime minister’s first rodeo, and he certainly did all he could do to try and secure thirty-one seats. So for him to use the excuse to say we just had an election and we need to realign our ministries and priorities is not acceptable. So, you knew you were running to take on another term. You outlined in your manifesto your commitments to the people, so any realignment in the budget should not, and we have finite resources, it is not like it should be that difficult or take so long to make whatever adjustments he may deem necessary immediately following an election.”

Breaking Down the Culture of Animal Cruelty in Belize

Animal cruelty has been a major concern for Belizeans across the country. Recently, we’ve covered stories about neglected and abused horses and dogs being shot by police officers. But animal cruelty takes many forms and happens around us every day. In tonight’s edition of the Five-Point Breakdown, we examine the culture of animal cruelty in Belize and the laws that protect animals. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Less than a week ago, a shocking video showing a brutal attack on a horse with a machete went viral, causing widespread concern across the country. Following the incident, five people, including three minors, were charged with animal cruelty. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time such a crime has happened in Belize. Just this past January, a police officer was charged after a video of him repeatedly beating a dog circulated on social media. Animal cruelty occurs every day, but it’s rarely caught on camera or reported.

What is Animal cruelty?

Britney Gordon

Belize’s Cruelty to Animals Act outlines penalties for any person who refuses or neglects to provide and supply animals in their care with food and water, and any person who cruelly beats, ill-treats, over-drives, over-loads, or tortures animals. It even makes provisions for those mishandling animals or engaging in animal fighting, but what are these penalties?

The law allows police officers to arrest anyone violating its provisions without needing any other authority or warrant, so offenders can be brought before a magistrate and dealt with according to the law. Recently, Police Commissioner Chester Williams prosecuted the case against the five men accused of injuring the horse.

Penalties for Cruelty to Animals

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police (File: April 11^th, 2025)

“Under the law, the offense of the offense of cruelty to animal carries a imprisonment term of six months. And there is no provision there for a fine. Yes, we know that applying the legal principles that even though a fine is not there, the magistrate at trial if found guilty can still impose a fine or they can go at a custodial sentence depending on how they see the evidence and the different submissions that the different parties may make at that particular juncture.”

Animal abuse has become normalized in Belizean society. While most people don’t see themselves as abusers, many ignore the instances of cruelty happening around them every day. Dr. Jane Crawford, a veterinarian with nearly thirty years of experience, has treated dozens of animals hurt by humans.

The Normalization of Animal Abuse in Belize

Dr. Jane Crawford, Veterinarian, Animal Medical Center

“During my time working as a vet, we have had animals come in that were maybe chopped by machette. Maybe the neighbor has a grievance against a neighbor and they will take it out on the animal. So we would see quite a few cases of that. And I think we have to also know that cruelty is not only physical abuse, it’s also neglect that you just, you have your animal chain all the time and you don’t feed it on time. So all of that plays a part in in cruelty to animals.”

Crawford has seen a decline in severe cases of animal cruelty. However, every case is still heartbreaking to witness.

Dr. Jane Crawford

“We get animals that they have been thrown hot water on them. I had one particular case where somebody had forced the dog to eat a hot boiled egg. And so we got burns all inside the mouth and we get animals that are just thrown away. And then just kicked and hit. So you get fractures and broken bones and all of that.”

Across the country, several organizations are championing animal rights. These groups are made up of volunteers like Odessa Solis, who have devoted their lives to rehoming injured animals and strays and raising awareness about proper animal care. Solis believes the problem with many Belizeans is that they see animals as property, rather than living beings with needs and feelings.

Belizeans Step up to the Plate for Animal Rights

Odessa Solis, Animal Rescue Volunteer

“It’s been a hardship for us to experience now growing up in our community, looking at the neglect that the animals are going through and the abuse. And basically what I do to contribute to my community. I work along with my mom where she lives, there’s so many animals on the streets that are neglected and abused, and what we do is provide just a home, provide meals, water, any medical help and just basically assist them with whatever needs they need.”

Sheltering and feeding the fifteen animals currently under their care has become a costly endeavor for Solis and her mother, but they continue to reach out to the public for support as they attempt to rehome them. A tough part of the job is assisting animals that come from abusive or neglectful homes.

Odessa Solis

“Animals that are treated really badly do come with their downside, right? However, being the kind of person that me and my mom are, we’re very patient. We try to put ourselves in those situations to understand, you know?”

In the recent horse abuse case, the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) stepped in to treat the injured animal. Zoe Roberson Zetina, BAHA’s Managing Director, emphasizes that BAHA advocates for the humane treatment of all animals, whether they are pets or work animals.

Zoe Roberson Zetina, Managing Director, BAHA

“We always believe in the humane treatment of animals, and so this is definitely something that we condemn and we condemn it in all its forms. We do take keen interest in animal welfare, but that is a component of BAHA that we have not properly developed. So there are different animal humane society and different agencies that look after this type of thing in a more detailed way than, BAHA does, but there is a component of animal welfare that we monitor and we condemn the actions. So that is a big part of why we will respond to all injuries that are reported to BAHA.”

Dealing with animals can be frustrating, and this often leads people to act violently. However, Dr. Jane Crawford advises pet owners to step away from the situation and return once they’ve calmed down. Odessa Solis explains that she will continue to help neglected or abused animals, but without full support from the public and police, there’s only so much she and other volunteers can do.

Ending Animal Cruelty in Belize

Odessa Solis

“I feel like those people that do these awful things they really have some issues to deal with. They need help personally. But at the same time, I would like for the government or even the police department to be aware that you do have citizens that need that help, that support from you guys because it’s sometimes it’s very hard to go to some neighborhoods and try to fight for these animals. And these people are very resistant to the assistance.”

Many animal rights activists hope that by continuing their efforts and speaking out, Belize will strengthen its penalties for animal cruelty and reduce the daily instances of abuse. Britney Gordon for News Five.

PSU Ready to Work on Collective Bargaining Agreement

Along with the seven-point five percent salary increase, the union is also pushing for transfer grants to go up from twelve hundred to one thousand, five hundred dollars. They want the government to make sure every public officer transferred between 2021 and 2024 gets the one thousand, five hundred dollars they’re owed, as per the negotiated agreement. P.S.U. President, Dean Flowers, pointed out that these demands haven’t been met yet, and despite no budget review, a C.E.O. salary increase has been approved.

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“In essence, we’re saying to them that we want a response to that framework within twenty-one days, so that we can move ahead with the negotiations. And more specifically with the submission of proposals that are to be considered under the new CBA. So they have twenty-one days to respond to us before we go back to our membership and ask for a mandate on how we proceed. Despite the elections, the government had enough time to look at that framework and to provide us with a response. But clearly they do not prioritize public officers. They do not prioritize improving the lives and the working conditions of public officers. So they’ve dragged their feet there and now that the election is behind us and a new cabinet has been installed. We’re hoping that we will get a response within twenty-one days. We will be thereafter submitting our proposals and on the negotiations, I’m hoping we’ll then proceed and we can close those negotiations within six to twelve months at maximum. Within the framework, we’re proposing a maximum of one year of negotiations.”

Placencia Beach Erosion Threatens Belize’s Beloved Tourist Spot

The ongoing erosion of Placencia beach has sparked concern among the community, leading to discussions on how to tackle the problem before the popular tourist spot loses its entire beachfront. The Ministries of Natural Resources, Sustainable Development, and Infrastructure Development recently met with Placencia residents to address the issue. News Five’s Marion Ali spoke with Brice Dial, the Placencia Village Council Secretary, and Albert Loewen, a property owner, who explained the plan to move forward. Here’s the report.

Marion Ali, Reporting

In March, several Placencia residents gathered at the beach to remove rocks that had been piled up in front of private property as a form of protection. The property owner, worried about erosion on his beachfront, had built the rock wall to preserve the area. However, environmental research shows that these rock walls cause erosion at other beachfront properties further south on the peninsula. Erosion has been a problem in Placencia for a while now. Brice Dial, Secretary of the Placencia Village Council, says that progress in one part of the area has led to problems for them in Placencia.

On the Phone: Brice Dial, Secretary, Placencia Village Council

“There’s a lack of flow of sand coming to the peninsula now, partly because of extraction of material from the South Stann Creek River and diversions to the river. There has been a diversion for pumping water, for irrigation for the banana farms. So that’s one of the issues.”

The erosion problem worsened for Placencia residents living south of the peninsula because those living to the north placed rocks on the beach in front of their homes to protect their beachfront.

On the Phone: Brice Dial

“If every single property owner along the coast is capturing sand, at some point there is going to be no sand moving down south, which is basically where we’re at right now. So that natural replenishment that used to happen isn’t happening, and we had a scientist here working along with a group called Strong Coast, and that scientist gathered data of the entire peninsula. And there was a meeting, I think it’s going on two weeks now. He said in the meeting, he’s a specialist with coastal erosion. He said that approach is not something that is recommended by the experts. It just fixes the immediate problem in front of a property, but overall it causes more damage than good.”

A Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of South Florida recently conducted a project in Placencia. She also weighed in on the erosion issue and shared Dr. Ping Wang’s suggestions from a community meeting on the topic.

Maya Trotz, Professor, Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida

“The question for here is, I think, do you go through that process of doing the rocks and the sea walls and then learning two decades later that you know, there is another way to do this? Or do you start sort of testing and doing some pilots on what beach nourishment might look like, coupled with many other things, so coupled with beach nourishment, but maybe coupled with adding more vegetation, so that you have some sort of dunes on the beach front that can also help to hold the sand. Many people here would like to see more literal forests and just the natural vegetation come back and then on the seaside, if you nourish the beach – so this is like bringing your sand onto the beach and then it over time will naturally form with a structure that would stay there for longer. You’ll continue to have to nourish, but it’ll be a couple years maybe, and then maybe, you know, Dr. Wang was talking this morning when we passed the Placencia airport, that that has a lot of rocks. It’s important infrastructure, but also that might be an area where you could cover the rocks and make that sort of a dune.”

Albert Loewen lives in the northern end, in Maya Beach. He came up with a plan to solve the issue.

Albert Loewen, Property Owner, Maya Beach

“I already asked somebody this week if I could start with my beach if I was allowed to barge in some sand to replenish my beach, and they said that’d be a good idea to actually do a trial on my beach at my cost to try barge in some sand and see how replenishment works. So I think that’s the approach and then we try to get government involved because again, Placencia generates a lot of income for Belize. The initial issue that Placencia had, they needed about $200,000 to fix their problem that they have right now, so they’ll have to spend about a half a million dollars to start with or more, but once we get it fixed once, we will probably only have to spend about a hundred thousand a year to keep the replenishment stable in on, on the, on the Placencia beach.”

Loewen estimates it will cost about a quarter million dollars to dredge material from the sea and fill the eroded beach. He believes this is a better option than placing rock walls along the northern end of the peninsula, which would eventually leave the entire south of Placencia without a beach. However, a recent meeting between the village council and relevant ministries has resulted in a plan. According to a press release, they are committed to addressing any human-induced factors contributing to the problem. They also acknowledge the impact of climate change on Placencia. The plan includes enforcing environmental regulations strictly against non-compliance and increasing vigilance through frequent inspections. Additionally, they will formally notify the Cabinet of the concerns raised by all stakeholders and the proposed actions by agencies to address the issue. Marion Ali for News Five.

Village Council Says no to Proposed Subdivision of Park in Orange Walk

A village council is putting its foot down in Orange Walk after the Lands Advisory Committee began taking steps to subdivide a nature park in the community. Earlier this month, the San Jose Nuevo Palmar Village council wrote to, Chairman of the Committee, Wincy Perez, strongly opposing the subdivision of the Siibal Yum Nature Park. In the letter, Village Chairman Orlando Ayuso explains that over twenty thousand dollars has been invested into the renovation of the park, which has become a popular spot for leisure and recreational activities in the community. We spoke with Ayuso today to hear why the council believes the park has become an integral part of the community.

Orlando Ayuso, Chairman, San Jose Nuevo Palmar

“The state of the park, right now’s a clean park, a usable space. If you go to our social media page, we just had a very successful Easter egg hunt. And when we came by asking for the vote for the second term, we promised the people in that area, you’re gonna have a park. We’re gonna clean this up. People will stop dumping garbage. You will stop smelling the stench of rotten carcasses because you used to dump dead dogs, dead chickens, people who are running poultry shops to dump the feathers and things over there. It was hard to monitor because of the lack of resources and finances. And as usual, I, as a chairperson, took the lead. Two of my members, my vice chairman and one of my counselors, went on to offer themselves for election for Lands Committee. And they won. They won because they’re very good leaders, so people look at them as somebody who could lead. And it just so happened that now they’re on that side that one of it’s not them that wanna subdivided. It’s a little group of people guiding them into subdividing this park. So that is how we arrive at where we are today, that day that the Palmar Village Council is asking the Lands Committee to not do that subdivision because it is already an established part. It’s a pity. It’s a pity because on that side of the village, these people haven’t gotten much, and this is the first meaningful thing that they’re getting from any group that has been governing the village and children are using that playground already. They go there to play, it’s a safe environment. In the afternoons, people go and walk around it and work out because most people work out on Boundary Road, which is a busy street. So it’s safer for them to go one street behind to the park. We know as Siibal Yum Nature Park and they some ride their bicycles around, some walk around. And we are trying to keep it natural because you wanna create a nature park. We’re planting more trees. We have put in a few park benches because it’s community-based, so people have been donating those benches were donated by villagers, not by any group specifically, but by villagers. So if this was to be taken away, then they’re taking away the only recreational area that side of the village has.”

Palmar Village Council Concerned About Climate Change

San Jose Palmar has a unique history that shapes how land is distributed in the community. Descendants of the village can use the land freely, with the government acting as a trustee and the Lands Advisory Committee deciding on the distribution. Recently, the Palmar Village Council sent a letter to Orange Walk East Area Representative Kevin Bernard, expressing their concerns about the potential subdivision of the land. They emphasized that the community has greatly benefited from the park and stressed that any decisions about the land should be made transparently.

Orlando Ayuso, Chairman, San Jose Nuevo Palmar

“The subdivision, yes, it should be given to the descendants, but at the end of the day, they have also agreed that they’re gonna sell two land, two of those land to make back monies. do understand that there is some financial issue between the last outgoing Lands Committee and the present lands committee now, but that is something for them to solve. That is a descendant issue, a land advisory committee issue. Apart from that, as Village Council Chairman, my part is to protect parks and playgrounds, which I am given that right under the Village Council Act. And I wanna see this park remain because I do believe in green areas. I wanna see this park remain because I do having green areas because it is beneficial for the community. I do understand from those twelve lots that will come out from that park, two will be sold. And they already have the bias for those supposedly we don’t. And the question we need that descendants need to raise to their committee, who are going to be the people getting this land cause we hear a lot of rumors out there, which I prefer not to repeat because like I say, it’s rumors, but they need to ask the question, who will be the ones getting these lands? It is heartbreaking. The figure quoted in the letter of twenty thousand is not physically cash. People have contributed their time in cleaning. People have contributed fuel, some have contributed the benches, they have contributed food for the workers. So all of that, the time invested, the work invested is what adds up to that. It was never like twenty thousand in hand we are investing. The lands committee did spend a bit of finance there because they’re the ones that have the more finance in the village council. So we had to piggyback on them for that at the beginning. Truckloads of garbage came out from there that had to be dumped. Bulldozer had to be put in to start cleaning up the area. So a lot of work has gone in and people from the community have gone there to put in physical labor. So people feel that they belong. This is a part of them. This is they’re giving back to the community and they’re creating something for everybody. Nobody’s taking ownership on this. It’s something for everyone to enjoy.”