Gaspar Vega, Minister of Lands. The use of land lots for resale is a well trodden trail of corruption by past governments, for a political minister of the LANDS DEPARTMENT to enrich themselves and indeed, they consider it their RIGHT, as part of the SPOILS SYSTEM, that even the Prime Minister, Dean Barrow, mafia Don of the UDP political party running the government says is normal for politicians. One of their enrichment perks in office? Vega is also linked to a complaint I forget the details now, that some person in his constituency up North, said his long term merchandising importing distributorship, was hijacked by Vega using the PERMIT/LICENSE cancellation scam, to give to a relative. There was a street complaint from a farmer one time about Vega to do with a 30% hike from somebody trying to export a container load of produce to somewhere. Probably CARICOM? When seeking a permit to do so, from him. This may have been a government legitimate tithe. At the time though, it was said in such a way, that I interpreted the talk to mean a bribe? Not being sure, I didn´t follow up on it. GASPAR VEGA is a sweet talking politician and he comes across in public meetings and interviews as a very intelligent and nice man. It is hard to pin him down for allegations of corruption. One does not want to believe these allegations of him? He instantly establishes a rapport with people and people like him. Even me!
Wilbert Vallejos, Commissioner of Lands. Any land scam has to have this man´s cooperation with the political Minister in charge. He was linked in a Channel 5 TV article to a running scam in the Stann Creek District regarding the stealing of land titles to do with offshore island properties being resold more than once. Where there is smoke, there should be a fire?UDP GOVERNMENT WILL LOSE 5 POINTS PER MONTH, UNTIL THEY START TO ACT ON VILLAGE COUNCIL BY-LAWS. ALL VILLAGE COUNCIL BY-LAWS OUTSTANDING. STARTING NOW! UDP APPROVAL RATING DROPS FROM 11% TO 6%. Each month we will wait for news that the legislature has passed the Placentia by-laws in particular.
UDP GOVERNMENT FAILING TO DO THEIR JOBS ?
***** No sitting BELIZE politician has EVER gone to jail for corruption. Because the gang running the government, called a political party, have no controls, no legal requirements and penalties if they do so, in Belize. There are no LAWS governing politician´s behavior, like say in County governments and city governments you see in the USA.****
Quote from article below: Time the Cabinet did it´s job ???
"SOP for the Village Council Act. FYI, Placencia has been trying to get its by-laws passed (authorized by the Village Councils Act) since 2002. Despite many, many attempts (the Village Councils Act requires that the by-laws be passed by the national legislature), no success."
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The current secret project by Lands Minister on St. Georges Caye is obviously a SCAM, as in corruption.( public opinion and certainly mine ) We will keep an eye on it, but not deduct any points yet.
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"So, we have policies that can’t be enforced, and laws that won’t be enforced, and complete disdain for the governed. Politicians that promise transparency, but make everything as opaque as possible."
MinisterY of Lands, Cabinet Minister apparently running a GET RICH SPOILS POLITICAL SYSTEM SCAM???
- THE POLITICAL SPOILS SYSTEM OF BELIZEAN POLITICS IN ACTION ! -
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From the debate on the social network, the Belize Culture Listserve
SOP for the Village Council Act. FYI, Placencia has been trying to get its by-laws passed (authorized by the Village Councils Act) since 2002. Despite many, many attempts (the Village Councils Act requires that the by-laws be passed by the national legislature), no success.
The latest in our attempts to enforce the Village Council Act involves a dock constructed by Alex Kranzberg, of BNE fame. Former Village Council Chairman as his developer/contractor. No consultation with the Village Council. Former Village Council Chairman insists that the previous Village Council approved the dock. No minutes to substantiate, nobody on the Village Council remembers the dock even being discussed.
Dock is built, the Physical Planning Unit issues a letter, of “whoops, we’re sorry, we didn’t really give that permit.” Again, dock is built. What do you think will happen?
Belize is non-functional and dysfunctional in terms of government, good governance and policing.
In terms of non-functional, laws are enacted or policies adopted merely to satisfy international lending/grant requirements. There is absolutely no ability or will to enforce these laws.
For example, what has happened with the tinting law, the seatbelt law, the Village Councils Act, the sport fishing act protecting bonefish, tarpon and permit, the new gill net regulations, mangrove cutting regulations, dredging regulations, etc. Case in point, UNESCO decided to keep the Belize Barrier Reef on the World Heritage in Danger list because they saw no evidence that the Government of Belize had any desire or ability to enforce laws or regulations concerning the Belize Barrier Reef.
Belize is dysfunctional because there is absolutely NO inter-departmental communication, much less coordination. Geology doesn’t talk to the Department of the Environment. DOE doesn’t talk to the Planning Unit of the Lands Department. Nobody talks to Coastal Zone.
And, not only is there no coordination, government officials don’t even know the law and seem to have great disdain for us “little people.” For example, Beverly Castillo, CEO of the Ministry of Natural Resources, told the media a few days ago that she was not aware of any law requiring consultation with village councils before doing something like putting a 31 lot in the mangroves on St. George’s Caye. The Village Council Act requires consultation. But, go a little further into the realm of basic good governance. Wouldn’t it just be plain good governance to actually TALK to the people when you are making major changes in their community?
Also, all we do now is adopt “policies” – policies that don’t have to be followed when it becomes inconvenient. For example, Belize is attempting to adopt a national land use policy that is supposed to be the guiding principle for land use in Belize. Say that “policy” gets passed. (OK, it’s a daydream, but suppose.) It’s not law, just a policy. What happens when a minister wants to reward someone with some land for something like a boat repair yard in the middle of an area zoned residential under the national land use “policy.” How are you going to take a “policy” to court and enforce it? You can’t.
So, we have policies that can’t be enforced, and laws that won’t be enforced, and complete disdain for the governed. Politicians that promise transparency, but make everything as opaque as possible.
Under these conditions, what is happening on St. George’s Caye is no surprise. From a Belize-wide perspective, they should just be happy that nobody has decided to put an 8-story casino, hotel, condo and golf course development there – or maybe they have.
On 10/6/2011 7:09:04 PM, Kobuh (bzekobuh-list@yahoo.com) wrote:
> Sure seems that the Village Council Act is being ridden over roughshod!
> Â
> OCT 5, 2011 - PRESS RELEASE
> ST GEORGE’S CAYE VILLAGE COUNCIL’S OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON THE PROPOSED
> SUBDIVISION AND
> MARINA PLANNED BY THE MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENTThe
> St.
> George’s Caye Village Council has been made aware that surveyors have
> been on
> the island
> conducting a survey for the Government of Belize/Ministry of Natural
> Resources
> and the Environment in
> a mangrove swamp in the northwestern part of St. George´s Caye. The area
> is
> approximately 7-10 acres
> in size and it has been suggested and proposed by the Village Council that
> it be
> annexed to the existing
> St. George’s Caye Mangrove Reserve. Unofficial reports indicate that the
>
> proposed development
> includes 31 lots and a marina. To date all efforts from the Village
> Council to
> get information from the
> Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment have proven fruitless.
> In August 2010 St. Geo ----.
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