7 News Belize

La Croix Land Lament
posted (February 7, 2017)
Belize City Residents living around the La Croix Boulevard and Holy Emmanuel Street Areas behind the Complex may know Mama Rose Fast Food very well. Rosa Rodriguez and her family have been there for over 6 years selling food on that street corner, but, now, she is being forced to move by a woman who claims that her business place is trespassing on her land.

She and her family received a letter from the woman's attorney, Jacqueline Willougby, in late December, which demands that they remove the structure from where it is, or else they will "take legal actions" against them. The problem is that the family believes that they occupying road reserve for La Croix Boulevard, which would make it Government land. They've been paying their trade licenses fees to the Belize City Council, and they are complaining that they're being unfairly removed from that location, which puts their livelihood in jeopardy.

Today, we spoke with the head of the family, Jose Cervera, and he told us why he is not moving until a court of law tells him that he is wrong. Here's how he explained it:

Jose Cervera - Fast Food Vendor
"Specifically, I want to talk about the gachos place, the panades one, I've been here for more than 7 years. Suddenly, I received a letter from an attorney telling me that I have to remove the structure because I am in private property. My concern is how could this be? This looks like a buffer zone or a reserve area, government land because wires and high tension lamp posts are right in the buffer zone, and who that is in private property, I don't know. That's why it's my concern, plus, where are we going if they move us from here? We need to make a living, to survive."

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"You all pay taxes to the city, right?"

Jose Cervera
"Oh yes, sure. We have been paying, plus, you see the license. You can see it certificates."

Daniel Ortiz
"Explain to us how this attorney came to you all and said that you all are sitting on private land."

Jose Cervera
"She just reached at my place with the order. She told me I have to remove it and that she would send me a letter. She sent me two letters, one like a reminder, or something like that. See, if I don't remove the structure in a month's time, they're going to take legal actions, take me to court."

Daniel Ortiz
"Do you all feel that you are being unfairly treated?"

Jose Cervera
"In a sense, because I am telling you that this is the only thing that we got to make a living. It's a little place there, a panades shop, and then this lady is in the same situation, with the fruit shop, and she is paying a rent. You all, journalists, I am hoping you can help. If this belongs to her from a long time, she would never leave us to stay here for more than 7 years. Understand, It was after that, she came and I don't know what method she used to acquire it."

Daniel Ortiz
"Do you intend to move?"

Jose Cervera
"I waiting until she takes me to court to see what is right, and what is wrong, and the judge will decide if I have to move. If I have to move, I have to move. I am not against that, only that they show me that it is for her, where the survey markings are, and that's fine for me."

Jose Cervera added that they suspect that it is all about competition for who controls the fast food business in the area.

We contacted Jackie Willoughby, and she told us that because the matter is ongoing, she will not comment at this time.

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