Is Belama Becoming a Squatting Paradise?

It may not be the first time you’ve heard of squatting in Belize. People tend to think that if you occupy land for some years, you can claim property rights.

The truth is more complex. And the law is quite clear. 

While squatting is illegal, many still move onto unoccupied land, sometimes national, sometimes private, hoping time will tip ownership in their favour. But according to the Ministry of Natural Resources, squatters have no such right, and it’s the landowner’s responsibility to act.

In a 2020 statement, t , stating “The Ministry of Natural Resources hereby reminds the public that squatting on national land or private land is illegal.”

It added, “Any person who is found in the unlawful occupation of national land is guilty of an offence under the National Lands Act, Chapter 191 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000-2003. While it is the responsibility of private landowners to remove trespassers from their land, the Ministry reiterates that, under the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Chapter 98 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000, trespassing on private lands is illegal and subject to removal at the expense of trespassers.”

While there’s no official count on how many people are squatting in Belize, the issue has long been a concern, particularly in fast-growing urban areas and rural pockets where enforcement is weak.

Some cases have involved foreign nationals, including undocumented immigrants.

And yet, in areas like Belama in Belize City, development is accelerating, and so too is opportunity.

With a new NHI clinic going up, streets being paved, and plots rapidly cleared for construction, Belama is booming. But for some, that boom signals not just growth but also the opportunity to stake a claim, legally or not.

The most recent land dispute that we know off is over Parcel No. 5268 in the Belama Phase 5 area.

Francisco Salinas is being accused of squatting on a 1,139.94 square metre private parcel owned by Belize City Deputy Mayor Eluide Miller. According to a legal warning letter dated July 10, issued by attorney William Lindo on Miller’s behalf, Salinas admitted on April 29 to a contracted researcher that he had built a house on the land without permission.

“In or around the 29th April, 2025 you admitted to Mr. Samuel Calles, our contracted researcher, that you are trespassing on the Property and have also built a house without the permission of our Client,” the letter states.

The firm has given Salinas until July 25 to vacate the land and remove all structures or face High Court proceedings for possession, damages, interest, and legal costs.

The property is in the Caribbean Shores/Belize Registration Section, and a land certificate was issued to Miller on March 17, 2025.

News Five has confirmed that in the Belama area, many former squatters have already gone through the process of regularisation with the assistance of the area representative’s office, acquiring or purchasing their lots. This includes engaging with authorities and applying for titles. In most cases, this process has been ongoing for the past four years.

While isolated incidents remain, officials stress that anyone occupying land must go through the proper legal channels.