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We have an unusual story to report on tonight involving a family dispute over land, which according to one of 2 brothers, crosses the political party divide. Jose Novelo, a resident of Orange Walk Town says that he had a prime piece of farm land in Indian Church Village. He says that from 2000 to 2008, he was paying all the fees for land, but suddenly, the Lands Department stopped accepting payment for the land.

Novelo kept pressing, and he finally found out that his younger brother, Evaristo Novelo, got the Lands Department to accept his payment for the land from 2008 until this year. A few months ago, Jose Novelo found out that the Land's Department granted the lease to his brother, and so, now his lease is voided.

He tried to fight against his brother's claim to the land, and with nowhere else to turn, he came to the media with his issue. Here's how he explained the political angle:

Jose Novelo – Claims His Land Was Unfairly Taken Away 
"My complaint is about this piece of land in Indian Church, 54.84 acres. That I was paying for from 2000 to 2008, but when I went they didn't want to accept money. When I heard that my own brother was applying for the same land, where was working many years years aback, more than 36 years. For me, I think it's political. I have a little brother; his name is Elutio Novelo. He went and saw my brother, and he asked him why he was trying to take ‘Chino's' land – that's what they call me, ‘Chino'. And the words which came out of his mouth, ‘My party is in right now.' That is the answer that he gave my little brother."

We made numerous attempts to speak with Lands Commissioner Wilbert Vallejos, but we couldn't reach him by telephone. We'll keep trying to get comment from him tomorrow.