Ministry of Lands to Hold Land Clinic in Diaspora

There is quite a bit of division among Belizeans over the fact that the Ministry of Natural Resources is scheduled to hold a land clinic in California for Belizeans living in the diaspora. The argument is whether Belizeans living abroad should be afforded such a service when many Belizeans at home are still working to own a piece of land. We note that over the last couple of years, the Government of Belize has hosted numerous land clinics in each district across the country. We asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs for his thoughts on this ongoing conversation.

 

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“I will not be there, but I understand the deputy prime minister and the prime minister should attend. I really, to be honest, don’t know much about it. It is being organized by an organization in L.A, not by the ministry of Diaspora Affairs or Foreign Affairs. They got directly in contact with the DPM, and he had facilitated their request. We have provided whatever support the deputy and the prime minister has asked of us.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Should Belizean living in the diaspora receive this type of service?”

 

Francis Fonseca

“Yeah, I think people differ on this point. I think it is fair and many Belizeans living in the U.S. have expressed an interest in wanting to come home and contribute to Belize after retirement. In think that is the context which the deputy prime minister is looking at it. Many of them are saying we want to come back home but we don’t have land. We want to build our home, but we don’t have land. We have been saving while working here in the U.S. We have we lee pension. We want to put it back into Belize, but we need land. That is a legitimate point of view and the deputy prime minister, and his team wanted to facilitate. We want to encourage Belizeans to come back home, especially those who have retired with some expertise, extra money, savings. We want them to come back and invest in Belize and participate in the growth and development of Belize.”