Property Owners Illegally Claiming Public Beaches

Villanueva-Pott pointed out that property owners all over the island are illegally claiming beaches as their own. She says it’s become a major problem, with some owners even putting up fences to block public access. Pott has put these property owners on notice, making it clear that this won’t be tolerated.

 

Seleny Villanueva-Pott, Chairlady, Caye Caulker

“We are seeing more and more that not only locals, but foreigners and I don’t know what these real estate agents are selling foreigners, but a lot of them seem to think that they can own queen’s land, and we need to clear up that misconception. Queen’s land is a public space. There are many areas on Caye Caulker where you feel like there is no longer any beach and the community has been behind us to do something about these areas. They want their beach. They want when they go for a night stroll, they can go down to the beach and not be threatened by anyone. Where there is a street, you cannot own a street. Where there is a street that does not give you immediate access to that area. It is still the queen’s land and there is a process that needs to be done for you to even maintain or beautify that area and many people do not adhere to the process. They just go and do as such, and we really need to put a stop to that. If we sit down and watch, we will be taken over. The island has been pressuring us to claim what is rightful for the people of Caye Caulker.”