Today, the capital city hosted its second protest in a month. The teachers were first, UB students second, the UB Faculty third, and today it was BGYEA and other groups. Their issue is land distribution; they say it favours the rich and well connected. It's a complaint that can find resonance all across Belize, as so many people feel - many of them justifiably - that they have been excluded from the land distribution process. But, while it's a common cause not that many were prepared to take the day and take it to the streets of Belmopan today. Jules Vasquez was there to see the crowd:
Jules Vasquez reporting
The crowd of about 135 made the procession around Ring Road with drums, music, and placards. The main message
Nigel Petillo, BGYEA
"Land for the needy."
Crowd
"Land for the needy."
Nigel Petillo, BGYEA
"What do we want?"
Crowd
"Transparency."
If you couldn't make it out, the call was "Land for the needy, not the greedy." That inequity in the land distribution system was the unifying force behind this demonstration:
Wil Maheia, Activist, PNP
"Every Belizean has a right to own a piece of land and you should not have to know a politician before you could get a piece of land. Every Belizean should be entitled to equal opportunity when getting a piece of land."
Jules Vasquez
"This is such an important and relevant national issue, are you disappointed that only 100 people are here?"
Wil Maheia, Activist, PNP
"I think that silence speaks a lot. I would expect to see more people but considering the victimization that's taking place in this country I am sure it has something to do with that."
Nigel Petillo, BGYEA
"It's a nice turn out. There is a whole heap of patriotic Belizeans out here. To the government - numbers is their thing. They would want to point back on us and say that a little bit of people were out there, but I will have you know that we are being represented here by many members of different communities."
And the procession went before that eternal symbol of the status quo, the National Assembly building. No one was inside but Cabinet was meeting across the way. Their chants couldn't be heard and no one in Cabinet probably cared to look at what in political terms is an inconsequential crowd.
But the negative psychic energy, the ill vibe being sent from here to the seat of power must count for something, because so many Belizeans have a land issue - and everyone here surely did Those who did not come with placards, came with their yellowed, dog eared land papers, a trail and tales of frustration:
William Usher, Protestor
"The reality is the common people of Belize going to the Lands Department - the system is not set up currently where anybody can go into that department be attended to equally and equitably."
Michael Myvette, Chairman - More Tomorrow Village
"I am here in support of the demonstration because we have the similar problem. We have a problem from not only this administration but from the PUP administration."
Major H. Gilbert Swazo (Ret'd), Mayor, Dangriga
"I am here particularly because issue of land is also relevant in Dangriga. I must say here and now that there are several properties in Dangriga that were reserved as far as we are concerned well within 66 feet of any water body that are now being distributed by this Ministry of Lands to private individuals."
Emir Correa, Citizen
"I am out here because it's a just cause. We poor people don't have a chance to get anything with these kinds of politicians we have in this country and what this guy was saying is true. Our constitution doesn't give anything to us - the politicians decides. That is wrong. All of us are Belizeans, my blood is in this country from the 17th century and none of them gave me any land - the Blues and the Reds are the same when it comes to that. They decide who will get. I've been trying to get a piece of land for years and years, I don't know what happen to our application but ot doesn't appear anywhere."
Geovanni Brackett, COLA
"These ministers it seems that we have to carry a theme "I make no apologies" seems to be rap song or the verse, the chorus "I make no apologies." Well we make no apologies of being here today and they understand that we are not here in the thousands, but you know what, from small things can lead to big things and I would urge the organizers of the protest here today that the next time we march if they don't listen here today let's take it through the office of the Ministry of Natural Resources and shut it down."
And while there was hard talk - today's event was peaceful and non-violent. And we'll see how much further they need to take it, or can take it before they get some attention.
Jules Vasquez
"You think any change will come out of this?"
Wil Maheia, Activist, PNP
"Definitely, I believe that the government is listening, they are looking and even though in some people's opinion it's a small crowd - it's a powerful crowd, so it's making a powerful statement."
Emir Correa, Citizen
"I don't think our leaders are so dumb that they don't see this - this could be a bigger crowd. If we come out again it's going to be bigger than this."
Nigel Petillo, BGYEA
"A day like Tuesday is not easy for most of the grassroots people, they missed a day they lose a pay. It's not easy to bring a crowd out here but we are satisfied with this turn out. We are satisfies that these people who are out here means business, they are serious, they want change."
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