Mayor Defends Barricade Move Amid Hangar Access Debate

Tonight, we’re diving back into the Hangar controversy, a story that’s stirred up plenty of debate in Belize City. Why did the council suddenly remove those concrete flower plots that were blocking access just two months ago? Mayor Bernard Wagner gives us his side of the story. But that’s not all, former politician Boots Martinez is questioning why well-to-do seaside residents on the north side aren’t facing the same public pressure he did during the Belizean Beach saga. And what do everyday Belizeans think? We hit the streets to hear their views. Now, even though those blockades are gone for now, don’t be surprised if they pop back up soon. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the full story.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Tonight, Belize City Mayor, Bernard Wagner is admitting that the Belize City Council erred and had to remove the blockades placed at the Hangar two months ago. This comes after Rommel Berges, a resident of the area, decided to take the council to court over the placement of the barriers. Berges signed a neighborhood petition but says he was misled into thinking that the petition was for increased security.

 

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City

“It is a legal matter, procedurally, and so we at the City Council, the Council went over the request the petition by the residents and we expected that the administrative part would have gotten done and it was not and so we have comply with the procedures that has to be carried out before we could out such a transaction.”

 

According to Section 24, 3 of the Belize City Council Act, if the council wants to close off access to any street, a notice must be placed in the Gazette prior to the date it takes effect.  That same section also says that the council must invite residents of Belize City to make representations in writing. The council is obligated to genuinely consider those written positions. But, when the barricades went up, the council acted solely on a petition from Home Park residents citing security and erosion concerns.

 

Bernard Wagner

“Citizen security is huge and I put myself in their shoes living in a community and having this sort of invasion in your neck of the woods is not good, but at some point in time everybody have to cohabit and welcome any suggestion. But we have to be an ear to the residents of the city, especially the residents who reside in that area.”

 

Well, the Belize Police Department hosts weekly briefings, and the word “Hangar” has not come up in any of their statements of late. Furthermore, a search on News 5 Live and 7News websites revealed that the last crime related incidents reported in the area were twenty years ago, in 2005.  Several of those names on the petition are prominently featured on an application submitted to the Ministry of Natural Resources to have the area subdivide and converted into private property. Ironically, back in May, public criticism and government reprimand were heaped upon Anthony “Boots” Martinez after his private venture blocked access to an area known as Belizean Beach, along the outskirts of the city. And tonight, he is asking, where is that same level of concern for access to the Hangar?

 

Anthony “Boots” Martinez, Former Politician

“All I the say, lef we mek we drown or swim, nuh haul the taxpayers’ dollars into this.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Do you have anything to say to the residents in that area, especially your friend Jules who hammered you on that story with the beach?”

 

Anthony “Boots” Martinez

“Like what I say, for me I always believe in staying in my lane. I think they say one man mistake is a next man beef stake. It was up for the government to all for that. I think there will be some consequences to bear. I think nobody have problem with people owning seafront property by the hangar. But the reason they decided to buy it is because the poor black people guh back deh guh nuisance and throw condom and make noise. Is that the reason? To me, that is what I have a fundamental problem with. It look like you have to stay in your corner in southside, because the people they are referring to is not their type. They the talk about make noise and all kinds of things. So, that is my personal view on it. And, the reason, it comes back to what you say, why the pressure on me? I am a black man.”

Paul Lopez

“Is this not in your view a classic case of the elite versus the poor?”

 

Bernard Wagner

“You could say, I would not put it in that context. I would put it in the context of quality of life and having the ability to enjoy your surroundings in a peaceful, quite sort of way. You can’t have people coming from all over the place and invading your space and turning it into a ruckus.”
 

And, while the barricades have been removed from the Hangar, granting the public full access once again, according to Mayor Wagner, those concrete planters will likely be returned. He was sure about it.

 

Bernard Wagner

“But it is a petition. The petition was approved by the council. The petition of the residents was approved by the council. And so, we had It wrong procedurally. So we got to correct the procedural wrong.”

 

Paul Lopez

“And it is likely they will be placed back.”

 

Bernard Wagner

“More than likely yes.”

 

News Five also heard from two outspoken Belize City residents who shared their issues on the matter.

 

Moses Sulph, Belize City Resident

“Basically I would support it being fully accessed to the public. It is more so of people who have and want more and want more and want more and want more. So even if it was to be the fact people would have gotten it, I don’t think those people would be deserving of it. And I am not saying this to offend anyone. That is the truth. So, if anybody offends that is their own thing.”

 

Alex Sanker, Belize City Resident

“We nuh have no right in this country anymore you know, we nuh have no more right. It is all about money, power and generational wealth.”

Paul Lopez

“So you see it as a battle between the elite and poor people?”

 

Alex Sanker

“Of course, and the elite will always win. Because what we do, we are a generation of sheep, we follow, we are pot lickers, we bark and when the person pass we calm down and go under the fence and go sleep.”

 

News Five will continue to investigate as this matter develops. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez