Allegations of Land Greed and Nepotism Surface as Elections Near, Former Representative Elvia Vega-Samos Denies Political Motives

As the election date draws near, several allegations are surfacing regarding land greed over the past few years.  The first report came from Cayo North where the distribution of land was deemed unfair and nepotistic. This second report stems from the north where the former Area Representative for Corozal Bay, now independent, is under scrutiny over land distribution.  Elvia Vega-Samos says the reports are being presented as a political attack and nothing more.  The reports are that between last year and February this year, several members of the Vega and Samos families received land parcels in rural Corozal.  The documents currently circulating list at least five people, including Elvia as being the recipients of these parcels of land, priced at five hundred dollars each.  Meanwhile, on the other hand, the independent Vega Samos is alleging ongoing efforts to humiliate and intimidate her by the People’s United Party standard bearer.  In a post on Facebook, she stated that “the PUP standard bearer claims publicly that she handed me an olive branch when in fact behind closed doors she sent a lawsuit for my husband with the condition of him doing a public apology to her!” Vega-Samos alleges that her husband initially chose to challenge the matter in court, and he attended his first court hearing, where the opposing party failed to appear. She goes on to say that the second hearing was delayed until April 23 after Garcia’s lawyer submitted a doctor’s note allegedly issued by her father. Vega-Samos then stated that “‘Lawsuits, when abused, transform tools that are legal into instruments of suppression.” She further claims that one of her supporters had been forced to publicly apologize in order to retain his job. The politician then ends by alleging that constituents who wish to retain access to privileges, including free zone entry and job security, are being pressured to display a flag in support of the PUP standard bearer at their homes. The statement is one of many that Vega-Samos has released since announcing her candidacy last month.