On Saturday Sarteneja villagers staged a protest because they say a PUP Minister is trying to parcel off their village's seafront property.
And, in fact, one such transaction has already had to be reversed. Jomarie Lanza has more:
In September the Sarteneja Alliance For Conservation And Development sent Natural Resources Minister Cordel Hyde a letter expressing concern that there was, quote, "land grabbing of public spaces within the Warrie Bight Area."
They note that, quote, "several public-designated areas within this site -specifically road reserves intended to provide access to the seashore - have been surveyed and are now in the process of being privatized."
They point to two specific cases of concern:
- A proposed public road access...reclassified as Lot #1955, and
- A public access road located between Lot #85 and Lot #86.
We saw that there was also a title issued to Xannia Castaneda of Santa Clara for parcel 1955.
The issuance of the title has incensed Sarteneja villagers and on Saturday a group of them went to Warrie Bight to protest and protect their sea frontage.
Voice of Mateo Queme, "La Voz" -Community Activist
"So my people as you guys can see this whole land this whole land that is called, they call it a pit here that way you can get a lot of minerals such as gravel, stones, lime stones to fill up roads and stuff but you know what it does belong to the government but what belongs to the government belongs to the people but yet some people and the government are trying to convert it to property to benefit their own selves their family members and this is kind of the problem that they are having here in Sarteneja and in these areas."
On the 1st of March one of the villagers had a confrontation with PUP politician Ramiro Ramirez at the marl pit which they also fear is being speculated upon to be sold.
The community is also concerned about 5 other lots allegedly marked out on the seafront in the beach reserve. That has led to a petition the the village council and other authorities demanding that they:
Stop all permits for private acquisition or gating of existing public pathways to the beach. Cease any proposed acquisitions currently in process and make null and void those that have already been issued.
So far the Ministry Of Natural Resources has confirmed that the title for lot 1955 has been reversed and has been restored as public land and the same for lots 55 and 56.
But the abiding suspicion that this hidden slice of paradise will be cut up and parceled out to special interests just won't go away:
Voice of Mateo Queme, "La Voz" - Community Activist
"And like they said, it is being used or they are trying to apply to make it into land property to benefit the government officials themselves, personal selves and their families and cronies not for the benefit of the town the people and villagers of the constituency."
We note that our archives show that the owner of parcel 1955 Xannia Casteneda is also the major shareholder in RJC Auto Parts and Heavy Equipment which we identified in early 2021 as receiving multiple contracts from MIDH. She is known as a close political affiliate of PUP area rep for Corozal Southwest Ramiro Ramirez.
