The endless bureaucratic red tape that surrounds the acquisition of land, especially in the city, has for years now forced persons to squat. But with squatting comes innumerable problems that often are addressed in the least of sensitive ways. This is only done when the problem escalates to proportions that are unmanageable. Today we again catalogue one of the daily problems that squatters in Belize City face even after living for a number of years on land that they think is theirs. This morning we were visited by a young man who told us that he has been occupying a piece of land for 12 years only to suddenly find out this year that the land he has built his life around has been leased out to someone else.
Isaac Polonio
I fill the land, and thing, fence it up and thing, chop it down, cause it mi have lotta big tall tree. If you notice, ah still got wah couple ah them over deh so weh ah no even end up di chop yet, you know. So I deh back yah and a really sweat main, chop and thing, full up, fence up and thing and this da it right ya so. I feel lef out. Why I seh I feel lef out fi tru to da because like, well da no only me one di feel lef out because other person, people round ya have the same problem concerning deh land and thing check. But yes, I feel like I di get lef out a dis place yah. And I noh think it fair and thing because the area representative supposed to come 'round inna di areas and look after people interest and thing and si who own the land them before deh even di give them out, so I feel lef out, yes. I really want dis piece of land because I deh back yah and I no want deh tek my piece ah land and give it to nobody else, you know. You supposed to come and look into di people who deh pan the land right now weh di sweat pan di land and come look after dem interest man, no just di sit down inna di office and just di seh she alright, da lady always di come to me and thing, mek wi give she wah piece a land. No, that no work so. Di people deh ker me da court now, check and di court deh tell me I have to move off ah my place and thing because the people deh done gone apply fi my piece ah land and look like the people dem inna the office deh, I no know if they give it to them already or what but stating that the people deh have wah lease fi my piece ah land, and I deh back yah twelve years and every time I try go in and get my lease and thing, you know, I can't get it and thing. I da wah poor man weh work da Port Authority to, you know. I just the try wah thing you know. I da no no violence man and thing. This da my first land weh I di try apply fa same way to, you know.
Polonio says that he's seeking some form of redress as he has labored for 12 years on the land and has nowhere else to go.