And at the crux of that argument with the Government of Belize is that the Lands Department approved 1,327 acres of land between miles 41 and 42. The grounds for BGYEA's dispute is that the 29 acres of buffer zone which they want to plan corn on, and which the government wants to leave untouched, is part of that 1327 acres approved.
Now, BGYEA's toughest critics have suggested that Nigel Petillo has simply piggybacked on the issue of availability of land to citizens so that he can justify his attempt to strong-arm the Lands Department into allow them to use the buffer zone for corn farming. The motive being suggested is that he is trying to deliver land for BGYEA's business-partner Sam Patton as he had promised.
On Saturday, we put that question directly to him, and here's how he responded:
Nigel Petillo - President, BGYEA
"The investments that are taking place at Harmonyville is not about an individual, its about the development of that community for its people and for this country. I am prepared to make another arrangement with any other individual or business or corporation or organization who is ready to give back to this country and to its people. I still hold no apology. That individual saw it it fit to come and work with us. We have been crying out to government to come and assist us. We have been crying out to government to come and build our roads, work on the buffer - they choose not to. They say its our responsibility. We went out and found individuals who are interested in working for us for the people and for this country and again no apologies. Mr. Sam Patton was bullied; he was forced out by the government. However there are other Sam Patton's out there. There are other Belizeans out there. There are other individuals out there who understands what's taking place at Harmonyville - no apologies. After we win our court case on Friday we will plant our corn freely without disturbance from government."
"The bottom-line here I want you to understand, we hadn't just jumped into an arrangement because we wanted an arrangement. We were always trying to dialogue with our government. We were always trying to get the attention of our government. We were always trying to bring forth the issues from Harmonyville to the government. Over and over they tell us that we are on our own - that is the result of this today."
The injunction cases goes back before the Supreme Court on Friday.
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