Town Talk Rekindled in Ladyville and Lord’s Bank

Just seven days ago, something stirred in the heart of Belize District. The Ladyville and Lord’s Bank village councils brought together a small but passionate group of residents for a community meeting that’s reigniting a long-standing conversation, should Ladyville become a town? Now, this isn’t a brand-new idea. Belizeans have been tossing it around for years. But with fresh backing from both village councils, the buzz is back and louder than ever. Since that meeting, residents have been weighing the pros and cons, asking themselves what town status could really mean for their community. Could this be the beginning of Belize’s next municipality? In this week’s edition of the Five Point Breakdown, News Five’s Britney Gordon dives into the details and explores what’s at stake for Ladyville and Lord’s Bank.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Ladyville and Lord’s Bank are booming. With over twelve thousand residents and nearly four thousand households as of 2022, these villages are growing fast, and so are the challenges. From crumbling roads to poor drainage and rising security concerns, the pressure is on. Now, the idea of turning Ladyville into a town is gaining traction. After a recent meeting led by Ladyville’s Citizen Advisory Committee, local leaders are seriously considering the move. Could town status mean more funding, better infrastructure, and a stronger voice for residents? Ladyville Chairman Bernardo Bennett sat down with News Five to share how the conversation started and what it could mean for the future.

 

Why Should Ladyville and Lord’s Bank Become a Town?

 

Bernardo Bennett, Chairman, Ladyville

“The committee brought up the discussion about township because of the  number of issues that arise that, looking at the Village council act, is hard to address these issues, because the Village Council Act is not all that autonomous to match issues now in Ladyville. So they say, what about the possibility of turning into a town? And after discussing all the possibilities and stuff, the members of that committee decided and asked me as a chairman to explore and to try to see how we can get this done. Because they believe it’s time now that Ladyville Should turn a town.  And of course, inviting Lords Bank.”

 

While Section Four of the Belize Village Council Act outlines the general responsibilities of village councils, mainly focusing on the upkeep and care of public property, the Belize Town Council Act takes things a step further. It explicitly grants town councils the authority to construct and repair streets, highlighting a broader scope of infrastructure management. Belize Rural Central Area Representative, Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, says that introducing a new municipality can mean growth for the community.

 

What Does a New Municipality Mean for Belize?

 

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Area Representative, Belize Rural Central

“San Pedro was a village at first. Now it is a township. Belmopan was just an area where the new capital was when the, when, of course, George Price had the vision to create a new capital, but it was made into a city. And I think that they are growing great tons, if I would put it that way. Belmopan is just huge now with over ten thousand voters. The Belize rural south constituency where we have San Pedro and Caye Caulker, you’re looking at over ten thousand constituents. The only other division that is bigger than Belmopan and San Pedro rural south, the only other division that is bigger is now Stann Creek West. So let’s look at the development of the communities, the vision that we would have for Ladyville and Lords Bank, and we can try to make that happen.”

 

The idea of turning Ladyville into a town has been floating around for years; but now, Lord’s Bank is stepping into the spotlight too, joining the conversation and adding a new layer to the discussion. Last week, the two village councils met to discuss whether merging the villages would be the right move for residents.  So, with Ladyville being so populated, why should Lord’s Bank be included in the potential new town?

 

What Brings Ladyville and Lord’s Bank Together

 

Bernardo Bennett

“Vast majority of people in Lords Bank do business in Ladyville. So, the argument to them, what I present to them is that you are spending all your money in fuel groceries here alone. Whatever you do, you have to basically would have to go to Ladyville to conduct business and commerce. So I told them that your money is spending out there. Why not join together? Pull the resources so that very same resources your mother that you’re spending will in return help to develop your community.”

 

One of the biggest worries for residents is whether becoming a town could lead to higher land taxes. Currently, homeowners and businesses pay between ten and forty-five dollars per year. However, that amount could rise significantly, since town property taxes are typically calculated as a percentage of the property’s assessed value.  Balderamos-Garcia says this factor is being closely looked at.

 

Possible Increase in Land Tax

 

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Area Rep, Belize Rural Central (File: Nov 5^th, 2025)

“I think Mr. Clifford King as one of the senior officers at local government, he was able to explain what were some of the advantages and what a scheme of very modest property tax may look like. but if we want to provide services for our community, we need to have some revenue, some resources.”

 

No concrete plans to merge the two villages have been made and the idea remains in its preliminary phases. Balderamos-García emphasized that before any steps are taken toward merging the villages, it’s essential to hold broader public consultations to ensure the community is fully involved in the process. So, will the idea remain in limbo like it has for decades or is this the beginning of a new chapter for Belize?

 

What Comes Next for Ladyville and Lord’s Bank Village?

 

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia

“ I would say no, it’s not in limbo at all. We would want to sit and do some good planning and then we, when we have a broader community meeting, we could answer even more questions than came up today. But I do want to say that the preliminary meeting today went extreme, exceedingly well.”

 

The first consultation was a small, close-knit gathering of around thirty people, quite modest when you consider that over twelve thousand residents could be affected if the merger goes through. For now, it’s still just an idea on the table, and only time will tell what the future holds for Ladyville and Lord’s Bank. Britney Gordon for News Five.