While we had the opportunity, we asked Deputy PM Vega about the plight of some 30+ families living in Toledo Village of Trio. As we told you, they risk losing their homes and their farms because the current owner has demanded that they've squatting on his land.
This Asian business man bought these large tracks of farm land which used to belong to the Thurton Estate. These families have been squatting on it - reportedly - for over 25 to 30 years, and they've cultivated it, even built their homes on it. They claim that successive Government Administrations promised them that the situation would be normalized. That never happened, and this current business owner has come forward to demand that they each pay him $20,000 for the piece of land that they're squatting on, or else they need to move.
So, they are facing eviction, but these poor residents cannot afford to pay for the land. We're told that they've communicated their plight to Ministry of Natural Resources, which was being led by Deputy Prime Minister Vega. When we asked him about it today, he told us that while he doesn't remember the case specifically, he does know of 4 villages, including Trio, which is in this very same situation. Here's how he explained it:
Hon. Gaspar Vega, Minister of Agriculture
"I think we processed their papers if I am not mistaken. I know we did it for a village where they had been squatting for a long time, then the government had to do the surveys and ensuring that the people get their papers."
Daniel Ortiz
"Are you hundred percent sure that that is Trio sir?"
Hon. Gaspar Vega, Minister of Agriculture
"I am not sure if it's Trio. I know we did it for a village. But it's extremely expensive and that's what people have to understand too, because these people they don't pay for the survey. The government has to get the resources and I think there is like 4 villages that was asking for that process to be done. But it's only done one at a time. If they had been squatting on private land, that makes it even more challenging for the government, because the government then has to acquire. Acquire meaning buying the land from whoever owns it and then give it to the people for free. So I don't know what you talking about. I think the one we had done was GOB land. So it was less expensive. We just had to pay for the survey and the processing and ensure that people get the right papers for their land. But if it is one where we have to buy the land, then it's more challenging."
Daniel Ortiz
"Sir, did your administration of lands ever worked out deals for situations like this where it was private land and you all had to buy it? Is there any consideration for that type of situation under your administration?"
Hon. Gaspar Vega, Minister of Agriculture
"Yes, we have done that before for different villages where we would have to acquire the land. But that is a decision of cabinet, because it depends on resources. We go to cabinet and then we decide on if we buy for this village and then maybe after so much more time, we have resources for another village. But that's how it's dealt with."
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