Government to Meet With Martinez and Pollard Over Controversial Land Deal

Prime Minister John Briceno says that government will be meeting with John Pollard and former Minister Anthony “Boots” Martinez over the 2.5 acres of land at Belizean Beach. As we reported earlier this week, recently circulated documents show that Pollard purchased the land, which was already being processed for the Belize Coast Guard, for a thousand dollars back in 2020. There are another 13 acres of land adjacent to the Belizean Beach, found to be the property of a non-governmental organization called “Housing for the Poor”, which is also reportedly linked to Martinez.  As public outrage mounts over the sale, PM Briceno says he intends to reacquire the land. He also called out Leader of the Opposition Tracy Panton for not taking a strong stance against the sale, which happened under the previous administration, which she was a part of.

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “For some time, when we were in opposition, we have been asking about this housing for the poor. And nobody could have answered. Nobody could tell us what is it that they’re doing. Even the then prime minister was kind of skeptical when he was asked about it and could not give a straight answer. So what the outrage that it has caused with the Belizean people, especially in Belize City, especially people on the south side that use that beach I think it will be our responsibility to meet, visit Mr. Pollard, or visit Mr. Martinez, whichever they want to be and ask them that I think it’s in the interest of the public for them to bring it back. So then we can then declare it probably as a public park, pass it on to the city council for them to manage or fix it so that our citizens in Belize City can enjoy it. I’m very, very disappointed in her because she stands up there and pontificates. And then one of her own. She’s not prepared, she’s not strong enough, I want to use the word “man enough” but I don’t want it to sound in any way sexist but it’s a term when you’re not prepared to stand up for what is right then you need to question the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition. Because she knows what Boots Martinez allegedly has done or Mr.Pollard what they have done is wrong. And I think she would have gotten a lot more respect from the Belizean public if she would have spoken out and said, you know what if that is what’s happened, that has taken place, then you need to return it. And there are things that are very questionable. So we are investigating and we’re hoping that they are prepared to return the title and then we give them whatever monies that they have paid and what they probably have spent on the land.”

Also weighing in on the sale of the land today was President of the Public Service Union (PSU) Dean Flowers. Flowers says that the issue of prime land being sold for a pittance is not a new phenomenon, and that successive administrations have benefited from this practice. He says that, while addressing the current issue with Pollard is important, he wants to see comprehensive land reform legislation that will bring a decisive end to this issue. 

Dean Flowers, PSU President: “For me, I won’t be caught up in the politicking. I want us to focus on how will we fix this? When will the Minister of Natural Resources take to the House of Representatives, take to Cabinet and to the House of Representatives that we need land reform, not only land reform, but we need tax reform where the real estate industry is concerned?  When will we start charging all these land agents a serious capital gain tax  of 75 %? If at least 50 % because they’re getting these lands for free and for pittance yet they’re flipping them for millions of dollars at the expense of my child, your child, my children, your children and our children collectively.  And so until such time that those same dishonest and I’m trying to be nice here,  these hypocritical area representatives that are in the house talking foolishness about land.  Until such time that they are serious about having that conversation in cabinet, about introducing laws against land speculation. And if you want to speculate fine but while you’re speculating,  we will introduce a serious levy on those undeveloped properties. And when,  and after a certain amount of time, we will also make provision to confiscate back those lands based on the tax over almost half a billion.  And this was in 2021,  half a billion dollars worth in taxes. It’s probably up to a billion now.  And that should be an information that should be asked of the Ministry of Lands. What is the tax arrears out there? Introduce legislation that compensates people for what they bought it because they didn’t develop it. So why should the state have to pay you back millions now to reacquire?  Introduce legislation and introduce it retroactively, Mr. Prime Minister.” 

 Pollard was recently served with a stop order from the Central Building Authority to discontinue developments being done the land. Martinez is the contractor who was working on that development.