From Paradise to Legal Battle: Howler Jungle House Dispute Turns Ugly

Imagine this: the deep, guttural roar of howler monkeys echoing through the rainforest canopy, as they swing from tree to tree in the heart of Belize District. Hidden in this tropical paradise is a rustic wood cabin, modern amenities, air conditioning, everything you’d want for the perfect getaway. This is the Howler Jungle House and Cabanas in Burrel Boom Village. For Shanna and Kenny Williams, it started as a dream ten years ago with just one house. Today, that dream has grown into four luxury accommodations, thanks to a partnership with three American investors. But here’s where the story takes a very sharp turn, what began as paradise for those investors has now spiraled into what they’re calling a nightmare. Tonight, we take you inside the deal, the promises, and the allegations of fraud that have turned this jungle retreat into the center of a bitter legal battle.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The distant roar of howler monkeys echoing through the lush rainforest of Belize, as they swing playfully from tree to tree. Tucked away in this tropical paradise is a cozy wood cabin, modern amenities, air conditioning, the works. It’s the kind of getaway most of us dream about. Welcome to the Howler Jungle House and Cabanas in Burrel Boom Village. For Shanna and Kenny Williams, this dream started a decade ago with just one house. Today, it’s grown into four luxury accommodations, thanks to a partnership with three American investors. But what began as paradise for those investors has now turned into what they call a horror story.

 

Voice of: Dr. Sade Thompson, American Investor 

“We did Zoom meeting, we had our first Zoom meeting and they pitched the idea to us and said it would be like a Mennonite structure. I didn’t even know what that meant. Mennonite structure, I live in Los Angelese, California, and it sounded very good. The price would be fifty thousand U.S dollars for a one bedroom and I told them I was interested in a two-bedroom and they gave me a quote of eighty thousand U.S dollars. And so, we thought that all sounds good, so what do we do. We let them know we are not wealthy American we are working and we have to pay as we go along because we don’t have this large amount of money to fund this.”

 

So, here’s how the deal was set up: the American investors signed a lease agreement with Shanna and Kenny Williams. In that document, it’s clear, the Williamses remain the beneficial owners of the property. What they offered was permission for the investors to use part of the land to run three units. Now, this wasn’t just a handshake deal. The agreement spelled out a long list of fees the investors would pay to the Williamses, everything from hotel management and monthly damage costs to operational expenses, security, reception, cleaning, landscaping, maintenance, even social security contributions. In short, the Williamses were still very much in control.

 

Voice of: Dr. Sade Thompson

“There were no red flags so we continued sending the money until the project, they started working on the project and we met the contractor and they said, the wood had to be upgraded and the structure has to be a certain way. They started adding these luxury things and putting more and more. So my cost went from original eighty thousand to a hundred twenty-four thousand U.S. dollars and my sister and friend their quote went from fifty thousand U.S to eight thousand U.S. dollars. So we began asking for explanations. We already had put so much money between the soil and other testing and it is hard to back out at this time.”

 

The investors say they kept sending money into the project, even as the bills started climbing, because they believed in the dream. They were confident that, in the medium-to-long term, their investment would pay off. But then, things took a turn. The relationship between the American investors and their Belizean partners began to sour. So, a consultant was brought in, not just to help steer the business back on track, but to mediate between both sides. And that’s when the bombshells started dropping. The consultant began revealing things the investors say they never saw coming.

 

Voice of: Jasmyn Tillett, Consultant 

“In Belize you know how we get a quote, like if you ask for something from the hardware store and pay for it. They were taking the quotes and billing the investors. So, they had a lot of quotes, but they were not necessarily receipts. If it was under a hundred thousand dollars Belize I would say business happens and things happen, but when it got into a five hundred thousand dollars U.S.”

 

Now, those investors claim they’ve been duped. They’re pointing to what they call a laundry list of fraud, everything from inflated employee salaries and questionable electrical upgrades to bogus invoices, road construction scams, and even discrepancies in consultant payments. And that’s just the beginning of their allegations. But Shanna and Kenny Williams are refuting every single claim. In fact, they’ve lawyered up and made it clear they’re taking this seriously. Today, they even invited us out to the property to see things for ourselves. While there, we spoke with attorney Andrew Bennett.

 

Andrew Bennett, Attorney-at-law

“My clients categorically deny all these false allegations that have been made against them. We find them libelous and defamatory, and we are considering taking legal action on the heels of that letter. What is fact is that Dr. Sade Thompson entered into an investment agreement. This is what we are seeing right now. Three structures were placed on my clients’ property and the purpose was to jointly operate these structures as tourism accommodation. What has happened is that six months after commencing the operation of these vacation homes, in our view, Dr. Thompson listened to bad advice and that led to the dispute currently before us.”

 

According to Bennett, the Williamses ran their operations by the book. He contends that the cost of the works carried out to prepare the property and construct the three structures are well within a justifiable range.

 

Andrew Bennett

“What we will say is that those structures are very unique to the property and they have their aesthetic appeal and that is why we invited Channel 5 to see for themselves what these investors got. It is not every American voice that becomes the truth. You have to listen to Belizean investors. Kenny and Shanna they have conducted their business above reproach. It is because of their ethics and business and professionalism is what brought these investors to this property.”

 

The American investors say they’re ready to pack up, take their structures off the property, and move on with their lives. But that’s easier said than done. This tug-of-war has turned into a full-blown legal battle, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. We’ll have more details for you in an upcoming newscast. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.