Eviction Controversy: Families Ordered to Leave Land in Toledo

Reports reaching our newsroom are that some seventy-five families have received letters of eviction from an international realty company operating in Belize.  The families have been living in Trio Village, Toledo District for many years, and are now being asked to vacate the property which was reportedly sold to an Asian businessman under the previous administration.  Love News received a copy of the letter that informed the families that effective March 1, they will be charged five hundred dollars monthly per home should they remain on the land.  As for the farmers, they will be taxed $500 monthly per each acre that they are using. In an attempt to get to the bottom of what the situation is, we spoke with John Acott of Remax Property Center who indicated that there are eight families being affected, and that the families are not being evicted.  He noted that initially the idea was to carry through with eviction, but the private owner had managed to work out a deal with the government.

John Acott, Agent, REMAX: “This has been going on for two years and the government agreed that if the ___ gave the land to the government they would subdivide it and give it to the villages. In return they gave him a parcel of land of the same size but the government never did that. We’re waiting for the government to give him another piece of land the same size we’re talking about two and a half thousand acres right in return for this land and the government kept this land and subdivided it for the villages that was agreed two years ago. We’re working with Minister Espat on this. My client wants to sell the land but he can’t because there are squatters.”

Reporter: So it’s not that you guys are seeking to remove them though ? There’s no eviction order in place ? 

John Acott, Agent, REMAX: “We don’t want to move them. The letter was just to get the government to move.”

Reporter: So it was just a letter to threaten the government to carry it along.

John Acott, Agent, REMAX: “To encourage the government to move along yes.”

Acott says they are in communication with Area Representative, Mike Espat.  We have been reaching out to Minister of Natural Resources, Cordel Hyde, but our efforts have been futile.  We also contacted the Chairman of Trio Village, but he says he is awaiting a response from Minister Hyde.