On Wednesday residents in West Landivar spoke out on 7NEWS against David Gegg's plan to build a 56 boat marina and office complex next to Dolphin Park. A public consultation on the controversial project was held by the City Council last night and Gegg got more than an earful. About 250 residents turned out and dozens spoke out forcefully against the plan. Here are some clips from last night's fiery confrontation between residents and Gegg.
Resident #1,
"You come here and tell us that you want to work with us, you want to build. So what will you do when you come behind here? Where will we walk? Will we be able to walk? No way Mr. Gegg! May God take you away from here but we have a peaceful and blessed Landivar."
Resident #2,
"I would like to know Mr. Gegg, what do you do for the Belizeans or Belize for you to inherit so much property? What do you? We have so many Belizeans that don't even own a piece of land."
David Gegg, Tourism Developer
"Miss Pariente I've never inherited a single piece of land."
Resident #2,
"Well what did you do to get it?"
David Gegg,
"Work damn hard."
Resident #2,
"Well not in West Landivar, you got to move out. You got to move out Mr. Gegg because it won't be possible because it won't be nice if you come here. We are going to retaliate and you will lose more than what you put in."
Resident #3,
"My name is Agnes Arana and I have lived in this area since the December 1986. My father before me, my in-laws before me served this country. We will never be millionaires but we are millionaires when it comes to educating this country and I think that our voices should be heard. Those of us who are professional people we never ever achieve financially, eventhough we educate some of you very ones who make the millions, and then you walk over us.
We are some of the teachers and the doctors and the lawyers and everybody while you all grab and sweep with all your greed and all you have to show is your millions and show it off with whatever it is you have an you will die just like the rest of us. I don't know where all this came from but I am mad as hell and it takes a heck of a lot for me to get mad. You can keep the smirk on your face with all your millions but it is not going to easy."
David Gegg,
"The world is changing my dear, the city is changing and you have to change with it."
Present at last night's consultation was Caribbean Shores Area Representative Jose Coye. He kept a low profile last night but today Coye spoke out decidedly on the side of his constituents. Coye told us that the people have spoken and it's obvious they don't want Gegg's project in their area.
Hon. Jose Coye, Caribbean Shores Area Rep.
"On a whole it seems to be that those who spoke out, those who expressed themselves, the majority of them seem to be opposed to the project."
Keith Swift,
And as area representative will you stand behind your constituents?
Hon. Jose Coye,
"Certainly, as a representative of the people we must submit ourselves to the will of the people and I made that quite clear last night."
Keith Swift,
So you're against the project
Hon. Jose Coye,
"Well I don't see the logic follows that I am against the project but the project to me seems to be one that will be difficult to be accommodated in that area and maybe there could be a solution by finding another area for the project and maybe that could be the answer. But I stand with the community; whatever the community decides, I will support."
Despite Coye's sentiments, the ultimate decision rests with the City Council. Mayor Zenaida Moya, who hosted last night's consultation, told us this evening that a final decision will be made next week Wednesday.
