Land Commissioner Defends Himself Against Public Criticism  

Talbert Brackett, the Commissioner of Lands, responded to criticisms made against him. He, in essence, chastised the media while providing a detailed explanation of how the two parcels of land were valued. Here is a snippet of what he had to say.

 

Talbert Brackett, Commissioner of Land, Land Department

“Please check these information before going out there blurting foolishness.  I know you’ll come back at me for this, but my name is on the line because you call my name on radio stations, on TV stations.  I am working with professional standards of valuation, so we get the G.D.V., to move on.  When you get the gross development value, we subtract for roads, which are in there. We did not give final approval because we are waiting on ministry of works to grant them the letter for final approval, but the roads are in there subtracted. This is why I’m saying conservative, because that is subtractive. Subtract, if I add that in, it’ll add to the value, we subtract for all developments. We subtracted for surveys.  Subtracted from the gross development value. When you get the gross development value, then you use the present value of a dollar today’s value, not future and this is why I use one hundred and sixteen, because it is conservative. We are being fair. I’m not taking up for the government of the day. I am doing a professional job. I’m doing a professional job.  There’s a station that said I am doing it privately.  The letterheads clearly indicate government of Belize.”