All last week we showed you those squatters on the area known as Lake Independence Boulevard - which will lead to the new bridge cross from Belama into Lake Independence. There are 6 families and they are playing the sympathy card to the max by begging government to find somewhere to put them.
That falls to area representative Mark King. We'd been trying to reach him all last week and he agreed to an interview today. He explained that asking for land in Lake I is asking to get into a long line:...
Hon. Mark King - Area Representative, Lake Independence
"They need to simply move their homes, and stay with their friends and families until I can assist them in finding a piece of land. For years we've allowed squatters in this country to just takes a piece of land, and then goes on national TV and say, 'You know what? Belizeans, I'm wrong, I took your land. Belizeans, I am sorry; I know I didn't do it the correct way, but at the same time, please have some sympathy on me.' Then, they try to hold the State hostage. That will not be tolerated. I always say that can't be. You don't come here, do your own thing, and then after that, tell the Government, 'Look, this is what you have to do.' That doesn't work. You don't come and threaten the Government first, and then later, come around back to realize that you need me to help you as the Area Rep., and then come to me and the Government. That doesn't work, and in this case, these people have breached their conditions of Squatting. Squatter’s rights are 30 years. These people aren't even there for 2 years. Some of the houses are shells, literally shells with just some plywood here and there. What gives them the right, just because we want to have sympathy over them? That doesn't give them the right. We have Belizeans who have been applying for land for years and years, and waiting for an opportunity. I know that because we have been doing our land amnesty program, and people are applying hand over fist. It's a very tough job for me, but I've started to give them some lands. I believe that there is a middle ground where we can work out something with the contractors, and they've said that they're willing to move the people. However, they cannot force my hand to give them a piece of land. I have to wait until the land information available, and then, I'll have the actual map in front of me to see what land is available, and what is not. My best advice to these people is that they concur with the government. They moved, we got the contractor to assist them to move whatever - their houses are very small and so we believe we can move them. But at the end of the day they can't force us to just find a piece of land and give it to them. I have to wait for that information to come in to know where there is land and a sub-division is being done. Again if that information comes in and there is no land available then I simply can't give it to them. I would apply for them at the Lands Department just like regular folks that I apply for."
Jules Vasquez
"So if they enter the line, they have to enter it at the back?"
Hon. Mark King
"I will look at the situation like the Gaynair case, I will give it a little privilege priority if they comply, but if they continue to resist then I've said, this is not Cuba, they are going to have it one way or another - they are going to go."
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