One thing the Prime Minister could not address today in a 70-minute press briefing was the issue of the Lake Independence squatters. For the past two days, you've been hearing the back and forth between them and Area Representative Mark King. Well, it continues tonight - except the squatters have changed their tack. They say that while King labels them PUP's they are in fact UDP's, or no kind of "P" at all:
Bernarda Riviera, Gungulung Squatter
"As a group, we are fighting for our piece of land that we are now living on that was promised to us by the minister, Mark King. For the record, we were moved and relocated to this present location by Minister King, natural resources with the assistance of CISCO, as well. I can recall my first registration was in the Collet division with Minister Patrick Faber personally taking me in to register as one of his supporters. When Minister King came in, that was when he personally took me to transfer to Lake Independence about two years ago. So for the record, most of the so-called aliens, my family and friends I have known are U.D.P. supporters and have been voting U.D.P. in this country. I have attended committee meetings; I have worked with councilor Edwards in the last city council elections; that speaks for itself. I just don't agree with what the minister is doing with the people in the Gungulung area. I believe that we believe better."
Candy Garbutt, Gungulung Squatter
"This is not in no way in any kinda way politically based. No one from no P.U.P. is giving us any money for anything. Me, personally, would never put my face on national TV for the benefit of a political party because none of them give me anything. I have six kids and I have my house and everything and none of them gave me a nail towards anything. I really want Mister King to tell me what's the difference between 
me, a born Belizean Lake I citizen, and those born Belizean Lake I citizens that he is talking about; that he wants to remove us to put them on it? I want to know what is the difference between me and them? Are they a part of the group that they are not normal citizens in Belize? I would just plead to the Prime Minister to please come and look into the situation and please allow us to live on our land because we work hard for it and we are Belizean citizens. It doesn't matter if we are nationalized or born Belizean citizens, we are Belizean citizens and we do have a right to claim a piece of land to chop it out. I know it says that it's against the law, but please, at least if you just this one last time, please allow us because we have already worked for it."
Bernarda Riviera, Gungulung Squatter
"And if we have disrespected, offended or hurt anyone by being outspoken and saying what we feel, we humbly apologized, but we need to stand up for what we believe we deserved."
The squatters cried out for the intercession of the Prime Minister - who as we mentioned - said he had no familiarity with the case.
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