Last night we took you to Rhaburn Ridge at mile 37 on the Northern Highway where residents were alarmed over plans to give CYDP youths farm land in their community. The residents, who are mostly immigrants, were worried that government would drive them off the farm lands they’ve been squatting on for nearly a decade to make space for the 80 CYDP farmers. The program to turn ghetto youths into rural farmers was the idea of Belize Rural North Area Representative Edmund Castro and today he went into the eye of the storm and faced Rhaburn Ridge residents. Here’s how it went.
Keith Swift Reporting,
Today the Garcia family showed Area Representative Hon. Edmund Castro the farm land they showed us yesterday – 6 acres which they’ve been living and toiling on for 9 years. Over lunch, Castro assured the families they won’t lose their land. Did it work? Here’s what Seferino Garcia had to say today after that session.
Seferino Garcia, Rhaburn Ridge Resident
“I feel that it was wrong because they invited me to go to the meeting telling me that this government was taking away the lands that we had worked for to give to someone else. I felt bad because, it could not be that what I had worked for was being given to someone who had not worked for it. That is why I went with them. Now I see that the new government is going to measure the lands and will give title to my family. That is why I am happy and I hope that what this government is saying is true so that the lands where we live are legalized.”
About two dozen residents met with the Junior Minister of Works this morning. They remain open but still very concerned about CYDP youths entering their community.
Seferino Garcia,
“I did know that the new government was brining in people who did not know of this place and the lands were going to be given to them. But legally if it is someone who is coming in for government to give him land somewhere else that is good but not what is already cultivated.
Well I don’t know them and they don’t know me. If they come to live in this village and they are honest as we who live here are, because there are many Hispanics living here and we don’t bother anyone, because I respect my countrymen and they respect me, I don’t go into their work area or they don’t come into mine so if they come in likewise respecting other people’s property then I agree that they can come in. I have no problem so long as they respect the work I have already put in. I have no problem with that.”
And while the Garcias are happy, at least 10 families have farm lands in Rhaburn Ridge and we aren’t sure if Castro met with all 10. The good news for the residents is that the land is still being surveyed and until then the CYDP farmers are tilling and toiling in Teakettle.
