Belama Phase 5 Families Face Uncertainty Over Land Ownership

Several residents of Belama Phase Five are facing the threat of displacement after learning that land they have lived on for over a decade may already be in someone else’s name. This news came to the residents during a recent government land clinic held in the area.

One resident said she has lived in the neighbourhood for five years and built her home on what was once a swamp. “When a flood or hurricane comes, yes, the houses that were there obviously came down. As it came down, we would have built,” she explained.

She said despite years of investment and development of the community, residents are now being told that their land is unsurveyed and still in process.

She says some residents have learned that people have applied for the same land. “How it could be over a year, one is on the land, nobody come check on it, and it got so-called owner now?” she said.

The land is classified as national land, which means the settlements were unauthorised.

Area representative Francis Fonseca told News 5 that the government has been working to regularise land distribution in Belama Phases Four and Five, with support from the Ministry of Natural Resources.

“We put in improved infrastructure over the past 4 years, and a lot of people have come back there during this time trying to claim lands that have already been allocated to other community residents,” he told News 5.

Fonseca said efforts are ongoing to address all concerns and ensure fairness in the process.

Meanwhile, affected families are asking for open dialogue with officials. “People work hard for what they have. It’s very unfair… I just hope that the ministers and whosoever is in charge of the area just come and talk to the people and find a solution,” one resident said.