Those 1,300 acres of land at mile 40 on the Western Highway – you’ve heard so much about it in the news and on talk shows recently. Well today we visited with Nigel Petillo, he’s the man spearheading the community initiative encouraging Belizeans to occupy the property. That has forced the government to make a decision on the land: first, it will acquire it and second it will parcel it out for agricultural purposes on what Belmopan Representative John Saldivar calls a first come, first serve basis. But then what about those who’ve already put in work to clear the land and have already set out their parcel of property? That’s what we asked Petillo today.
Jules Vasquez,
“The land should be subdivided for agricultural purposes, it has to be done in a systematic, orderly way, first come – first serve at the Ministry of Lands. What is your response to that?”
Nigel Petillo, Activist
“Well as you can see we are here. We done come, we are here. Come on, help us acquire this land Mr. Minister and give us a piece of land each.”
Jules Vasquez,
“However the Minister has said yes, he is doing that, the government is
making an acquisition of the land and if you apply you will duly receive a piece of land to do agricultural development on.”
Nigel Petillo,
“So in other words you are telling me stop building my house, move away from the investment I have spent here already and I can’t walk away from my investment. All I am saying to the Minister is while you are acquiring this land, we will continue to be here on this land, on this foreigner’s land, and we are expecting that you’ll work with us and come and find out what system has been placed here, how the land is being identified so far. Many of us are here because we already have interest in this land, we have made the step to work on the land, invest in the land. You people have gathered their selves collectively and we are waiting for our leader to stand with us now and direct us in the right path so that the Belizean people, we who are here already especially working this land, leaving our daily jobs to try to find time to work the land for our kids. Stand with us sir.
This is living proof that Belizeans want to work together, Belizeans want to work together and we are doing it. We are here already; first come, we done come.”
Jules Vasquez,
“Persons are to cease and desist from further occupancy, development and disposition of the land in question.”
Nigel Petillo,
“Alright whose orders are those?”
Jules Vasquez,
“Ministry of Natural Resources.”
Nigel Petillo,
“So do they own the land already? Is it actually their land?”
Jules Vasquez,
“Well they’ve indicated they’ll acquire it but they don’t.”
Nigel Petillo,
“So far I believe the only person who can tell us to move is the owner of this land. I am not trying to fight with my government. In fact I helped place this government in position and they have just inherited what the mass has been disappointed about for some time and now this is their break to play hero to come and be the type of public servants that we have elected. Stand with your people and change this process.”
So far, over 600 persons have signed up to participate in the project. On Sunday, Petillo is again inviting Belizeans out to the area encouraging more of them to sign up. We’ll have more on the story on Monday.
