Ladyville Man’s 30-Year Fight for Hen and Chicken Caye

He’s always called himself a proud supporter of the People’s United Party. But tonight, Ladyville resident David McCulloch says he’s breaking his silence because he’s been fighting a battle for far too long. It’s a fight that started way back in 1998, twenty-seven years ago, when McCulloch applied for permission to survey a seventy-two-acre island off Ladyville’s coast. He did it through his group, the Brotherhood Association, which had big dreams for that island, house lots for Belizeans and even a faith-based retreat center. Fast forward nearly three decades, he’s got a lease in hand, a purchase price set, but McCulloch claims consecutive governments have blocked him from making the payments. Well, when we reached out to the ministry today, Chief Executive Officer, Paul Thompson told News Five that the purchase price was issued just before general elections in 2008, and that purchase price expired in 2011, more than fourteen years ago. So presently, there is no application in the system for that island which remains undeveloped national land.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

For nearly thirty years, one Ladyville resident has been locked in a battle to secure a piece of the Jewel, a seventy-two-acre island just four miles off the village’s coast. Back in 1998, his group, the Brotherhood Association, first applied to survey Hen and Chicken Caye. That survey finally happened in 2007, and the Ministry Natural Resources gave its stamp of approval. But after all that time, the fight isn’t over. So, what’s standing in the way?

 

David McCulloch, Brotherhood Association

“This is seventy-two point nine three acres of island. This is a so much million-dollar estate. We wanted to create three hundred lots subdivision for Belizeans first. We are tired of our islands and coastline going to foreigners and when they subdivide it Belizeans cannot get a walk on these islands and coastlines.”

 

The ministry issued a lease to the association and then a purchase price of eighteen thousand, nine hundred and sixty-two dollars in 2008.

 

David McCulloch

“This is the purchase price, the government had given us purchase price. The lease states under these conditions, lease number 870/2008 is still in effect until freehold time is issued. When we tried to pay, we went to Belmopan to pay and the account was closed and we could not make payments. We liaised with that time prime minister, and we did not get any results.”

Back in 2008, the political winds shifted from the People’s United Party to the United Democratic Party. And David McCulloch has never hidden the fact that he’s a die-hard PUP supporter. Fast forward to 2022, McCulloch takes his case straight to Minister Cordel Hyde. The result was an inspection order being issued. But what does that mean for his decades-long fight?

 

David McCulloch

“After the inspection, the thing gone dead. Nobody wants to address the issues. I have made fifteen trips to the minister’s office. The secretary has met with me, they take down copies, pictures of the purchase price, the blueprint, phone number. Five trips in Belmopan. I meet with the secretary they cant do nothing. I meet with Ms. Georgette. I guh dah land’s office to try pay, Belmopan to try pay. If the big man deh want the place, there is no way our organization could fight and will not have no fight with no big man. If they are going to take us as the sacrificial lamb to if they are going to take us for the sacrificial lamb to violate our constitutional rights and politically victimize us by no fairly processing our documents and fairly dealing with us, then if you want the place then fairly compensate us.”

 

McCulloch laid out his association’s vision for the property, which he says includes a Christian retreat center, as well as refuge for victims of domestic violence, drug addicts and at-risk youths. According to McCulloch the association has already constructed a road and a marina on the island.

 

David McCulloch

“I personally wanted Belizean first to end up with a piece of that island. it is a difficult thing when a man like me is called to do the Lord’s work and the world’s work and some of our projects are shut down. The negative force does not want us to achieve certain goals. So they might have to kill me for trying to establish Belize International Island Holy Ground Convention Center, Retreat Center, Unity Foundation. Or maybe they have to block me so that it doesn’t reach me so I can achieve these goals. A lot of people have said to me, Mr. McCulloch, how comes your own party could do this to you. You party nuh genuine to you. I am not saying they are not genuine. I am saying they cant meet everybody request at the same time. Why these issues have not come to press is because we were not trying to bring it to the press, not trying to put our bosses on the frontline.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.