His beef is with Government?s land tax rates, implemented last year. At the time, GOB had projected $22 million in ?new? taxes, which would have come largely from the rescheduling of the land tax.

This January, Prime Minister Said Musa, Minister of Finance, reported that land tax collection had fallen short by $16 million for the financial year.

?It cannot be right that those who own thousands of acres of Belizean land, the legitimate patrimony of the Belizean people, should refuse to pay their taxes, which really are quite small compared to the great wealth represented by these lands,? Musa had said in his budget speech.

?No money can be made to pay that kind of tax,? Roux expressed today.

Roux?s last land tax assessment showed him owing $2,243.94 (with interest) for 199.995 acres of land in Willows Bank. Under the land tax system instituted last year, he must pay almost four times the amount he used to pay in land taxes?from $300 for the year 2003-2004, to $1,199.97 for 2004/2005.

Roux said that he has paid the 2004/2005 assessment, but he still owes for the 2005/2006 financial year, which was billed to him on April 21, 2005.

Roux?s land is taxed at 1% of the unimproved value, calculated at $119,997 based on GOB?s schedule of the unimproved value of land.

In April, in the midst of controversy that many Mennonite farmers had been migrating to Mexico because of GOB?s new land tax regime, Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. Johnny Brice?o, told the media that Government had decided to revisit the current land tax system, particularly to ease the burden on the productive sector.

Today, a lands officer told Amandala that the Ministry had submitted three proposals to Cabinet for a revised land tax system, and parties representing landowners, the business community and the Mennonite community are also working to formulate a separate set of proposals for an improved land tax system.

The official told us, however, that nothing has been finalized, and it could be a matter of months before GOB makes any changes.

Roux told us that his land, on which he said he has spent $200,000, is currently not under production. He said that he had been using it for cattle husbandry, but he has had great difficulty raising cattle on what he describes as ?pine ridge territory.?

He repeatedly expressed his frustration with the financial strain that he said the new land tax system has placed upon him.

?I plan to sell it. I cannot afford to keep it. I spent so much money on it and can?t afford for the Government to take it back,? Roux told us.

We asked him what had brought him to Belize 30 years ago. His reply was that he ?ran way? from his former wife in Canada, from whom, he said, he is now divorced. He married Belizean Ella McFadzean, with whom, he said, he had 4 children?most of them having migrated to Canada.

Roux further said that while he was in British Columbia, Canada, someone had told him about Belize and the benefit of being in an English-speaking country with available land.

?I love Belize,? Roux remarked, ?but I hate to see this country go to pieces.?

He asserted that despite his frustration with the current state of affairs, he plans to remain here, as he cannot handle the cold in Canada due to his medical condition.

Apart from Belize?s tropical climate, he loves being able to play dominoes and ?have a few drinks? with his friends in Belize, he said.

?It?s a shame Musa is messing it up, though,? he commented. ?I want to ask him what the hell he plans to do for the youths coming out of school.?