The official map of the area, from the Lands Department in Belize City, indicates that the area that is being filled is the seacoast, and that the filling is outside of the area that was officially registered and surveyed. Also, the filled area has already encompassed the lawful 66-foot public right of way.

The Belize City office of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Lands Department, however, did not know anything about the filling of the sea.

On the site, Amandala spoke to an individual who refused to identify himself, but informed us that his company had been authorized by the Government of Belize to do the filling of the area.

A check with the Ministry of Works? Belize City office came up negative, however. No one at that office could say exactly what was being built on the seacoast, but they nonetheless informed us that it has nothing to do with the Ministry of Works.

The area representative for Caribbean Shores, and Minister of Works, Hon. Jose Coye, told Amandala yesterday that the area being filled was on lease to three different owners, but ?I suggested that it should be given to two persons [because] there is a road that I insist must remain open, and certain areas must remain open to the public.?

When asked, however, who the persons were to whom the permissions had been given to claim lots that were in the sea, the representative for Caribbean Shores said that he did not remember exactly who the developers were.

The Lands Department in Belmopan proved to be equally in the dark. Deputy Commissioner of Lands, Jaime Grajales, told Amandala this morning that, ?I don?t know anything about that. I would have to check the Lands office in Belize City and send a Lands Inspector out there to find out exactly what is going on.?