On Tuesday, we showed you villagers from Blackman Eddy who were clearing out land behind their village - with the intent to settle the area - with or without approval from the lands Department. It's the Harmonyville model - peppered in this case with more than a little politics. And while government gave wings to the Harmonyville initiative - they won't do that in Blackman Eddy. In fact, at today's house meeting, they threatened to shut the villagers down. The discussion of the subject gave rise to a much wider discussion on land distribution - a discussion that got very ugly. We start though at the beginning with Mesopotamia Representative Michael Finnegan:..
Hon. Michael Finnegan
"When you representative seek to fool people and have them in Teakettle Blackman Eddy cutting out land as though the area representative is the Minister of Lands - fooling the people, making them sweat that they chop land and the get land. Mr. Speaker, that is being dishonest to their own supporters. I can understand then being dishonest to us and be dishonest to certain people in this country, but when you will be dishonest to your own supporters and having then with machetes sweating with the impression that they are going to get a piece of land and they could be able to build houses on the piece of land, Mr. Speaker, that is taking it too far. I would want to advise them in this House to desist and stop with what they are doing. You are fooling these people and the government will have to get involved and intervene and put an end to that."
Hon. Julius Espat
"We have the most inefficient - we have the most corrupt ministry that this country has seen to date. It is ashamed Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker as the Area Rep for Cayo South it is obvious to all that normal Belizean have no faith at all in the system and they have decided that they want to take things into their own hands. That Mr. Speaker is extremely dangerous. It is not about politics, it is about the poor people of this country having an opportunity to get land and what is happening is that they are taking out their machete, their chain saws and going out and survey their own lands because this government cannot do it for them. It's the same way that our villagers feel when people from outside come here and get priority over their village lands when they believe that they have the priority."
"Mr. Prime Minister, you are the one that in incited civil disobedience. You are the one that did that in the past but now it's coming full circle like what the old saying is "every sensei foul has his Sunday." Mr. Prime Minister the buck stops with you. Instruct your people to set up the proper system in the Lands Department whereas the Belizean people do not have to resort to extraordinary means to obtain the services that is duly theirs."
Hon. Gaspar Vega
"He is talking about the land that we need to distribute to all our people. I totally agree with that. But what I want to make mention to him is that in 10 years of the PUP they manage to distribute some 7,800 pieces of land. In 5 years we have manage to distribute over 38,000. Mr. Speaker the Honorable member Espat mentions that this ministry or the Ministry of Natural Resources is the most corrupt ministry. I wouldn't want to argue that because I have not measured it, but I remember that under your administration the PUP that was the most corrupt ministry. That was when you got the Chief Justice house. That was when they sold the piece of land at the Free Zone for $100 and the following it was sold for $1 million - that was when you got the land at St. George's Caye."
Hon. Julius Espat
"There is a mark difference Mr. Speaker, I have never been in government, he has been. Why don't he finds out about his family and all the lands in pine ridge - that is the problem."
Speaker of the House
"Member you are completely out of order. Either you ask for clarification or you have a point of order. Don't stand and shout in the mike again. Proceed Deputy Prime Minister."
Hon. Gaspar Vega
"I want to mention to the Honorable Espat that of he continues encouraging his people to go and do illegal things, the police department will be dealing with him. Honorable Espat I don't want to lose my respect for you but you like to talk a bunch of lies and you grin like you are silly. Honorable Espat comes talking about people who come here and get land. I don't know if he is talking about his colleague the Honorable Mendez because my wife is not "come ya," so it must be her that you are talking about - your wife you are talking about."
Speaker of the House
"Deputy Prime Minister sits down for one second please. Members, I allow the reference earlier the member of Cayo South reference the spouse of the Minister of Housing in a very respectful way. Listen to me, be very careful please. Nobody has step out of line as yet but be very careful. Proceed Deputy Prime Minister."
Hon. Gaspar Vega
"Mr. Speaker I don't see anything wrong when we talk "come ya" plus he brought it up."
There were a few more testy moments from today's house meeting - and we'll have those at the end of the news.
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