AG Warns Landmark Case Could Cost Taxpayers Millions More
A multimillion-dollar court ruling is raising new questions about how land rights are handled in Belize and what it could cost taxpayers down the line. After the Court of Appeal upheld a judgment awarding over six million dollars to the Maya village of Jalacte, the Attorney General is now sounding the alarm. Anthony Sylvestre warns the decision could blur the lines between private property and communal land rights, potentially creating two different systems for compensation. And with areas like Toledo already facing overlapping claims, the concern is that this landmark case could open the door to even more costly disputes.
Anthony Sylvestre, Attorney General
“So the concern of the government of the government is this and as I explain, you will see why this is very necessary for us to at least have and know if this will be the case moving forward that will be the stated law. So there are aspects of that decision which the court made an award with respect to. Deprivation of land. In this case, it was in respect to communal land. And the court, crafted and its assessment of compensation for land using a metric which is not used when determining and when assessing compensation for other land or private land. So the concern is that what you’ll have, and what we fear, is that you’ll have two regimes for compensation of land in the country. One for private land, which is non-communal, and one which is for communal. And that creates a concrete potential to create some issues. Particularly where in that, in the Toledo District, you have some third-party interest private land which may potentially be subsumed or be considered, communal land. So it has some serious, implications, financial implications. And so, the government sees it, sees it fit, and there is wisdom in approaching the highest court, the effect court, and say, “Look, this is the position. Two regimes with respect to compensation for land now seems to be the state of law in the country. Tell us, is this the case or, is this not the case?” That certainly would be extremely helpful and beneficial to all.”
Reporter
“The challenge would be in relation to the quantum, correct?”
Anthony Sylvestre
“Yes. Yes.”
Reporter
“Because you admit that it was unlawfully acquired.”
Anthony Sylvestre
“Well, there is still. There was an issue. We did raise the issue that, yes, obviously it was being, it was being utilized. But the issue that was raised, the court ruled against us in respect to that, was whether that, that era would actually form part of communal land, particularly since there has not been any formal establishment of boundaries. So, those are things as well that I do ask the court to look at.”
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