Imagine buying a piece of seafront property for only $2,000… Sounds like a dream, right? Well that dream came true for somebody. And it's not just any seafront property but reserved land in the West Landivar community.
The land was previously used by fishers to launch their boats - a practice that has been happening for years. As such, area rep Kareem Musa decided to uplift the area by adding stones where there was just mud.
But only a day or two after adding the stones, the quote unquote "owners" of the land placed boulders in front of the property, blocking off access. Boulders, according to Musa, that were taken from the fence of the adjoining park. In addition, the company added wooden posts to mark off the area.
The West Landivar residents immediately sounded the alarm, since they lobbied for the area to become a reserve in the first place.
And Musa says since it hasn't been de-reserved, the company that owns the land, Tek Multi-Solutions Limited, needs to "tek" the boulders off the property:
Hon. Kareem Musa- Area Rep., Caribbean Shores
"Last week around Wednesday I had lobbied the Belize City Council to get donation of some material, hardcore material in order to grade the boat launch that sits in this natural reserve that extends from the Moho Caye area all the way down to the University of Belize. This particular nature reserve is a protected area. It is the baby, the pride and the joy of the Westlandivar community. It offers great protection because of the mangrove and the ecosystem that sits around here. And so, after we had graded the boat launch, which by the way has been in use for donkey's years. We are talking as far back as the 1980s or even before the community was even established. Back then there were only four homes back here and this boat launch has been in use since then. So, I want to make the point that this is an easement. This is a legal easement that the community has and the members of the community have for using this particular easement as far back as the 80s. Now, much to my shock and awe, after we graded the boat launch last week, I was notified that this particular area of the reserve had been issued a title over this reserve that had been issued by the past administration on the tail end of their administration. We are talking June of 2020. On their way out. And it is not as though that they were not aware that this is a protected area because it was gazetted. In order for you to de-reserve an area that is protected such as this one you need to also gazet the fact that you are de-reserving it and that was never done. And so, what we have here today, the concerned residents have come out. They have asked for an audience with me because this has to be overturned one way or another. And I am talking at the very least, short term, this must be removed immediately. And so, the private landowner who has this, and I am told it is a company Tech Multiservice Limited, that company Tech needs to tek (take) this down. That's what they need to do because this is an easement that has been enjoyed by the residents of this community for so many years. And so, in the short term that is the plan of action. But in the medium and long term we intend to overturn this because it has to be fraught with illegality."
But the Belize City Council did not need to get involved after all since, immediately after the interview with Musa, the company sent a backhoe to remove the boulders.
Barrow and Williams Law Firm also issued a demand notice on the 19th of February of this year stating that they are aware of the damage and destruction to mangroves and the blocking of the public park and its nearby public access boat slip. Since Dolphin Park was declared a reserve in 2007 to protect the natural values, and since no permission was obtained from the Forest Department to remove or destroy the mangrove trees, they are demanding that the perpetrators cease and desist the unlawful activities. The notice ends by saying that the law firm will proceed with further legal action if necessary.
