7 News Belize

Get An Injunction Against Thy Neighbor
posted (May 28, 2014)

In February, we told you about the dispute where residents of the Palm Grove Estate, at mile 4 on the Northern Highway, were opposed to a contractor building an apartment complex in their neighborhood.

As we told you, the small community consider Palm Grove as private property, and they've been trying to fight this development because they're afraid that if they open it up to outsiders, the security of their homes and their families will be put at risk.

Well, as we showed you, Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley wasn't listening to them, and he ok'd the development.  Since then, the residents have kept at it, trying to stop the private company, Keas New Road Limited.
Today, that meant turning to the courts for an injunction to block the further construction of the complex.

That injunction hearing went before Justice Courtney Abel today for the first time since the Palm Grove residents started to agitate against them, the media got a chance to speak with a representative of the company. Here's what the attorney said:

Carlo Mason - Attorney for Keas New Road Limited
"That's their intent, to block these simply private efforts on private land, to have an apartment complex, which can only inure to the benefit of the Belizean economy, because, jobs are being created by this construction site. Eventually, homes will be created; eventually a greater congregation of people, which will encourage economic activity in the immediate surroundings, that will also be created. Unfortunately, there does seem to be an element of - I reluctant to say it, but I'll say it nonetheless - there does seem to be an element of elitism. I don't know if that is the proper word, but there have been comments made in the past about their disdain for certain things which have occurred in other parts of Belize City. They say that they've left Belize City. They don't realize that they are actually still within the city limit. They haven't crossed Haulover Bridge; they're still right there. So, if they want to get away from what's happening in Belize City, they can feel free to go to Orange Walk, then; go to Corozal. But here - and the Mayor himself has said it - and it's out intent to that this is nothing more than a frivolous action. I don't want to get into too much of the issue because it has not been heard, but the fact remains that this is an argument without merit."

Stephen Heusner, who was acting as the agent representing the entire community, is being represented by attorney Dean Lindo. The case goes back before the court next week Friday.

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