Email

Print

The property known as Baker's Ranch covers a 2,000 acre swathe of the territory in Sandhill Village. In fact the land which the village's police station, its school, and community center sit on were once part of Baker's Ranch. And that's why it's news that Belize Rural North Area Rep. Edmund Castro is moving ahead with plans to acquire a portion of Baker's Ranch against the wishes of the landowner. And the owners won't take it sitting down. Keith Swift has both sides of a contentious story.

Keith Swift Reporting,
This is Baker's Ranch East. It is a sprawling 1600 acres which stretches from the Northern Highway to the sea – and is part of the larger 2,000 acre Baker's Ranch property.

Armead Logan Thurston, Property Owner
"I've lived on this ranch for 34 years and my husband has lived on it for 45."

But now Armead Thurston and her husband Byron say that their Area Rep. Edmund Castro wants to strong the land from them.

Armead Logan Thurston,
"He had a meeting and he decided that he was going to lot it off and give it to people without our knowledge. This is not lease land, this is crown title land and if Mr. Castro wanted a piece of my land, he could have come and talked to us, he didn't have to take it like that. We find out that Mr. Edmund Castro is trying to get a piece of it and I found definitely yesterday and I called my neighbour."

That lawyer – who is also a political aspirant in the area is Arthur Saldivar.

Arthur Saldivar, Attorney for Thurston Family
"When this meeting was called on Sunday without the knowledge of Mr. or Mrs. Thurston and persons were informed that portions of Baker's Ranch would be made available, it came as a shock to the family because they deem it a great injustice considering that there is a law that prescribes a particular procedure that must be followed."

Saldivar says 100 acres of Baker's Ranch have already been surveyed and lots are being offered for lease.

Arthur Saldivar,
"There is a survey plan drawn which shows lots on the particular portion of land which comprises 100 acres of Baker's Land. Persons from that meeting and there is a particular person here who was at that meeting or who had actually spoken to the Minister or the Area Rep. has told us that he in particular has asked for $300 for survey to be done and $1,000 for the lease."

The man in the middle of the controversy Edmund Castro disputes that allegation but he confirms that government will acquire part of Baker's Ranch – and he says it is because the Thurston's owe thousands in taxes.

Hon. Edmund Castro, Belize Rural North Area Rep.
"Cabinet has passed a decision that the people of Sandhill need land for expansion for the village and Byron Thurston's Baker's Ranch, in one parcel they own over 1,923 acres of land right there in Sandhill and the thing is that they owe a lot of taxes. So basically what we're doing is acquiring land in lieu of taxes so that we can have lots for the villagers and residents of the Sandhill area."

Keith Swift,
"Is that legal?"

Hon. Edmund Castro,
"That is perfectly fine, government acquires land all the time."

Keith Swift,
"But the Thurstons have title, they have title to this land, they've had it since 1974."

Hon. Edmund Castro,
"Since 1975 but that is neither here nor there. They owe a lot of taxes and this parcel of land is approximately 1,923 acres of land. We are not looking to take away no 300 or 500 acres of land, we are only looking to acquire a piece of the land in lieu taxes so the valuation department from the Ministry of Natural Resources will then have to go in and value the land and give us a value in terms of money per acreage of land that we can get for the people of Sandhill."

Keith Swift,
"How much do they owe?"

Hon. Edmund Castro,
"They owe approximately $100,000 without the interest calculated up to date."

Arthur Saldivar,
"Where the government of Belize is seeking to acquire private property, private land, there is a process. First there is a notice of intended acquisition that is given to the land owner, then there is a period prescribed by law that a notice be placed in the gazette. That has not been done in this case. It is subsequent to the publication in the gazette that the government can proceed to regularize its ownership by virtue of that acquisition, intended acquisition. That has not been done. I would implore the Prime Minister of Belize to reign in his unguided missile."

Keith Swift,
"Mr. Saldivar described you as an unguided missile who needs to be reined in."

Hon. Edmund Castro,
"I don't even know that person. Whoever she or he is…."

Keith Swift,
"Arthur Saldivar."

Hon. Edmund Castro,
"Whoever he or she is neither here nor there to me. I am here representing the people."

An added wrench is that Baker's Ranch East is on sale and the Thurston's say they've already found a buyer. The family says they are selling the property because Byron Thurston is recovering from a bout with cancer. Castro dismissed the news that the land will be sold - saying that as far back as he remembers – Baker's Ranch has been for sale and no one has bought it. So the situation tonight is that the Thurston's will be waiting on government to make its move before they do theirs.