King’s Park is a quiet upscale neighbourhood, but from the looks of things, there’s gonna be a war on between neighbours on E Street. And it’s all because one new neighbour’s plans to open a store at #1 E Street. That is the home of Rafael and Jesusita Reyes – owners of the hugely popular discount store Creole Wagans Store on Vasquez Avenue. Well, they’ve built a new store in their yard on E Street. The news tonight is that some of their neighbours are bitterly opposed to it opening chiefly because of the clientele that Creole Wagans attracts. Problem is that the Reyes’ have already borrowed the money to build the store because they got a building permit in September of last year. Construction is almost finished and now they need a trade license. And that’s where the buck has stopped. City Hall is playing the role of mediator in a conflict with clearly drawn divisions of race of class. Valuation officer Troy Smith discussed the prickly situation with us today. He described to us the type of people those on E Street don’t want in their neighbourhood.
Troy Smith, Valuation Officer – Belize City Council
“We received the application there concerns from residents in the area where they felt that the City Council, the board should consider that license before it is approved.”
Keith Swift,
Why don’t these neighbours want the Creole Wagans in their neighbourhood?
Troy Smith,
“Because they felt that they were trying or they are trying to put this SI in place to zone a certain part of King’s Park to no longer invite any establishment into the area. The people in King’s Park believe that they don’t want any or any set of people in that area to say build around their property. They feel very concerned.”
Keith Swift,
You’re beating around the bush Mr. Smith, what type of people are we talking about?
Troy Smith,
“Well they are talking about, I believe low class people then in society
because Creole Wagans cater to all types of people; high class, low class, middle class people. They don’t want to invite this class of people because they feel threatened. They feel threatened by these different types of people in the area.”
Keith Swift,
I don’t agree with them but I respect their point of view but what then you do about Mr. Reyes whose already built a store and he is ready to open it and he can’t?
Troy Smith,
“Well we are not saying he can’t open it but what we’re saying, the board is saying, is to give a fair hearing and everyone in King’s Park has a right to voice their concern and their recommendations. The board will be there to facilitate that process and by the end of that consultation then the board has to go back to the table and make a decision – whether they will grant the license or not.”
Keith Swift,
Can that be a basis though on which the trade license not be given?
Troy Smith,
“No, no.”
Keith Swift,
Why was he given a license to construct a store when down the road you guys can deny him the trade license?
Troy Smith,
“Well bear in mind that the building local authority is a separate entity from the Trade Licensing Board. There are two separate entities and yes he had received a plan approved by the local building authority but when it reached the board it is a whole different requirements for a license to be approved. The board believes in making sound decisions and in getting all the relevant information before making a decision. Bear in mind Mr. Reyes has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars already in this establishment and we have to be very careful and also the residents are already putting together a SI to zone King’s Park. So there are a lot of components that have to be considered before the license is approved or not approved.”
Keith Swift,
Shouldn’t he have been told this before went and borrowed all that money and before he went and spent money since last September building this building?
Troy Smith,
“Well the board didn’t know of such business until the application reached us. It is only then we started to do the information process and informing Mr. Reyes of the procedure.”
A few things to note are that neighbours will be able to air their concerns at a community scheduled for next Thursday evening at the Lopez Mateos Park. The Reyes family declined our request for an on camera interview but told us the matter is in the hands of their attorney. We were unable to reach any of the citizens opposed to the store opening.
