In the novel The Adventures of Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens, Mr. Bumble questioned the wisdom of “the law” when he was told in court that he had some responsibility for his wife’s wicked doings. He, Mr. Bumble, did not have clean hands, and in fact the law had him dead in the crosshairs. Laws don’t drop out of a hat; they are thoroughly thought out, so it’s not surprising that Mr. Bumble was guilty as charged; however laws, like all things conceived or made by man, aren’t perfect. Indeed, some laws and their workings befuddle us.

It’s possible that in the coming days or weeks we’ll be able to process what in the world is going on re: the recent news that we owe apologies and maybe hundreds of thousands of dollars to former government ministers who were interrogated about their handling of the people’s assets. If that isn’t puzzling enough, we also have to process an April 7 Channel Seven News report that the court had ruled in favor of a party we thought owed us $400,000 for compensation he got from GoB, for land he got from GoB that GoB couldn’t give him.

Our poor little brains — how can we wrap it around cases like these, and others that cost the people even more? So very often we are left flabbergasted by cases involving the government and land. Land sold by the government and people for a pittance, for hundreds or a few thousand dollars, is turned into winnings in the millions of dollars for some parties. It makes the Lotto look like child’s play.

Starting at the beginning, the government, in the service of the people, sells land to citizens/businesses for those persons/entities to develop, either to construct houses to shelter their families, or to create farms or other businesses, activities that serve to increase the wealth of the nation. Sometimes, because of poor planning or error, government sells land that it later needs for the expansion of roads or the construction of hospitals, clinics, schools or playgrounds. The government then moves to reacquire portions of the land it sold.

The process for GoB to acquire/reacquire land is very simple. The government and people have a need and the government’s experts identify the most suitable parcel for the purpose and sets about acquiring it. The government’s agents assess the value of the parcel and make an offer: cash or an alternative parcel. The landowner can challenge the government’s offer. If the individual challenges the assessment, and they and the government can’t come to an agreement, the matter ends up in court.

It’s incredible. The government sells land to individuals and businesses at rock bottom prices. But when government needs to reacquire land, in the best interest of the people, the people’s funds get raided.

Too many people want more than what the government offers. They want to go to court, to the law, to extract from the government and people of Belize cash based on the full market value of the land. Understandably, people cold-bloodedly seek the best price they can get in a private transaction. But transactions between government and individuals, as evidenced by government never selling land at full market value, are not completely money-oriented. There is a fault in the law. It protects the rights of individuals to the max. Its protection of the rights of the government and people is feeble.

In its 2020-25 manifesto the UDP pledged that if it was returned to power it would address a valuation system that gave large sums to landowners when government needed “to correct a mistake or acquire land in the public interest.” Although that pledge is not in the present government’s manifesto, it has to, while its mandate is still fresh, make a move to address this problem.

All wealth is based on land. There are expeditions by the wealthy, powerful countries in the world to the moon and other far-off places, for the purpose of accessing more material wealth. They might be successful, as well as they might not; what is for sure is that what exists at this time is here, on earth. The land—developing it, trading it, strategically reserving portions of it—brings wealth to a nation. Gouging the government and people for reacquired land only enriches individuals.

The capitalist system is based on respect for private ownership, but that can’t be to the detriment of our country. We are twiddling our fingers while our people descend deeper and deeper into poverty. While some take advantage of the national treasury, more than 50% of Belizeans are experiencing serious financial hardship. In their hopeless state, some desperate Belizeans turn to stealing, armed robbery, and other extremely violent activities, all for the purpose of surviving. The millions being legally plundered from the government and people are funds that could be used to bolster NHI, improve education, subsidize public transportation, and fix our roads.

It’s either the government fixes the law, all weak laws, or Belizeans develop a conscience, start asking what we can do for our country. Every year during the September celebrations period, the government gives out awards to deserving citizens. There should be an award ceremony for citizens who had land taken away for a public purpose, and showed a conscience for the government and people of Belize.

The recent exposure of businesses that are charged with owing GST has given those enterprises a bad look, but those business persons will have their day in court to dispute the charges or explain how they fell into arrears. Those who owe GST pale beside those who are effectively “fleecing” the government and people over land reacquisition necessitated by poor government planning or error.

Good Friday, Ride for the Garland, Our Triumphant Holy Day

We are primarily a Christian nation, and in Christian nations all across the globe, this is Holy Week. It began on Palm Sunday, the commemoration of the Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. He rode in on a donkey, and the people spread their clothes and palm fronds in His path and sang, Hosanna in the Highest! When He dismounted, He went into the temple and chased out the moneychangers.
On Good Friday they scourged Him, placed a crown of thorns on His head, and nailed Him to the cross. As a symbolic gesture, on Good Friday almost everyone will have fish for dinner, and the bars will be closed until nightfall, except maybe in areas where we have visitors from abroad.

Holy Saturday is the day of our Annual Cross Country Cycling Race, and Belizeans across the length and breadth of the nation will pray that the first over the finish line will be someone with Belizean blood coursing through their veins. Nothing in sports captures the hearts and minds of Belizeans like the annual ride for the garland.

Most Christians believe that Jesus the Christ physically rose from the dead on Easter Sunday. Many believe it was a purely spiritual event, but no matter how they view the empty tomb, Sunday, for all Christians, is our Triumphant Holy Day. Hallelujah, He is risen! A safe and glorious Easter Weekend to all.