Caribbean Shores Area Rep Invites LOTO to Join in Push to Reclaim Belizean Beach Property

The Government of Belize is nearing completion of 17 concrete homes in the Caribbean Shores and Blackberry Estate areas, as part of its ongoing efforts to provide affordable housing for low-income families. With this in mind, Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa called on Leader of the Opposition, Tracy Panton, to join the government’s efforts in reclaiming public lands, specifically referencing the Belizean Beach area, which has been a subject of controversy due to its association with former UDP Minister Anthony “Boots” Martinez. The government is seeking to reclaim 2.5 acres of land in the Belizean Beach area, emphasizing the need to ensure that public lands are used for the benefit of all Belizeans. 

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs: “My brother, you have some real nerve to even bring up that topic because not one of your matchbox houses was built in Caribbean Shores. I can report today that we are going to have in a few days 17 concrete homes in Caribbean Shores and in Blackberry Estates. Not a single matchbox house, not that we wanted any of your matchbox hoses now. And it’s pretty, pretty barefaced. We’re bringing it up because you all invented the term and you have to take responsibility for it for something called housing for the poor. But all that that land scam has proven is that the UDP is corrupt to the core. Hustling. For boots, bare face hustling. And I heard the member for Fort George say we are going to take back Belizean Beach and I for one support that call. Because it was not the intention then, unless you want to correct me, Madam Leader, that housing for the poor was supposed to be a big land deal sold for 11 million dollars. Is that what your intention was? Or will you come here to this house today and join the call that we take back Belizean Beach from Boots Martinez?”

Minister Musa emphasized the importance of bipartisan collaboration in addressing housing shortages and ensuring equitable access to land and resources.