Land Titles Bring Hope and Controversy to Stann Creek West

More than a hundred residents in the Stann Creek West constituency have received land titles. It’s all part of a new development called Rodsville, an initiative led by Area Representative Rodwell Ferguson with support from the Ministry of Natural Resources. It’s about making land ownership more accessible, especially for young Belizeans looking to build a future. This marks the second phase of the project, which kicked off back in January 2024. And while many are celebrating the opportunity, not everyone is on board. Some farmers say the very program meant to uplift the community is now pushing them out. News Five’s Tanya Arceo visited Rodsville to hear both sides of the story.

 

Tanya Arceo, Reporting

It’s called Rodsville, a new development zone on the outskirts of Pomona Village in the Stann Creek District. And this week, over one hundred residents were handed land titles here, in what is being called the second round of land distribution.

 

Rodwell Ferguson, Area Rep, Stann Creek West

“When this group got together I told the to form a committee I never asked them to name it Rodsville because again that will create eyebrows but they did so its already officially the Rodsville expansion in the village of Pomona what they did they formed an NGO everything is officially recorded so what we did we invite the villagers for a meeting and we told them if you want to participate it comes with a certain cost its not a profit making venture but everything cost.”

 

 

 

The result was a community-driven initiative. An NGO was formed, and residents were invited to participate, each participant paid three thousand, five hundred Belize dollars, a one-time fee that covered land surveys, title processing, and a portion for future infrastructure in the area.

 

Rodwell Ferguson

“So we told the people them if you contribute three-five per person that includes your survey cost and your purchase price and so they contributed the three-five over a period of time and you were able to at least open the road so far this project started around February or march twenty-twenty-four. So last week Saturday we had a ceremony and we delivered over a hundred titles already and we had two more ceremonies so that the people will recognize that what we are doing is legit and that they want to participate.”

 

 

As more lots are handed out and development picks up, this initiative is quickly becoming a pathway to promise and potential in Stann Creek West. For many, it’s more than just land, it’s a step toward a more fair and promising future.

 

 

 

 

Rodwell Ferguson

“We already built a park to get to the park is like an island so it build bridges so it can reach to the park so its major developments we di affect at least two hundred to three hundred families so it will be a big community so the fee that they paid might sound exorbitant three thousand five hundred per person to own a land here.”

 

Tanya Arceo reporting for News Five.