4 April 2008 - (BelizeBlog.com) - Some years ago LOVE FM opened up a Belmopan forward station - building, tower, studio etc. About three years ago they shuttered it and retreated to the media capital Belize City. Bad move in my mind.Since then Belmopan media has evolved with PLUS TV and OPEN TV.
Today I saw a segment on PLUS TV that detonated a land mind under the feet of the Belmopan Mayor that I have not seen in other sections of the mainstream press. The Belmopan City Council appears to be full of hubris now and is now kicking Belmopanese around where before the elections they were very Goody Two-shoes.
Bad move.
As the X said some years ago, pound for pound, Belmopan has the largest concentration of Belizean brain power contrasted with other population centres.
Belmopan is the first population centre to make the P.U.P. a "third party".
The PLUS TV segment featured disgruntled market vendors who have operated from an open space next to to Belmopan Fire Station for over a decade.
The Belmopan City Council had apparently given them their marching orders. Same as they have done to dozens of poor "squatters" in other areas that helped vote them into office.
The next move I think is to Organise a Squatters Rights Movement to stymie the Belmopan City Council's ambitions in this area.
I am sure the Hon. Ramon Witz would support this movement.
The Mayor appeared on T.V. claiming that the vendors were being given the heave-to as the National Fire Service wanted its land.
Now, not to disrespect the Mayor, but a "friend" of mine had some time ago made research into the land as he wanted to buy it.
His research showed the land belonged to G.O.B. but was reserved for "possible" future expansion of the fire station.
Now Belmopan proper REQUIRES all buildings to be constructed with concrete. The city has about one fire a year. It is the most boring job according to one fireman.
We have about three other fires a year but these are in faraway places such as Salvapan, Maya Mopan and San Martin where poor people are allowed to build wooden structures. Ergo, any expansion would logically be a fire station in those areas.
In the interview the Mayor made a tortuous argument why the vendors had to leave. The fire station wanted its land.
His Lordship suggested that they might be able to move the vendors to the boondocks in San Martin but admitted when questioned by PLUS TV that they would not be able to make a living in that area.
Asked how these vendors were operating illegally as the BCC claimed, when in fact the BCC had granted them Trade Licenses, His Lordship wasat a loss for words.
Most people in Belmopan feel this move MAY have been a stunt similar to what happened to the land reserved for the new bus terminal - it ended up in the hands of certain folks those in the know, know who they are. The 30 year old bus terminal is still in the same location, has been given a fake face lift, and has buses thundering into a now very congested pedestrian area.
Anyways, as is wont to happen, a major power took place between rivals where the poor vendors ended up as winners.
The vendors contacted area representative Hon. John Saldiver who immediately went to bat for the vendors.
Thanks to his intercession, G.O.B. has thwarted the Belmopan City Council's plan to get its hands on the land.
Agreed in principle with the support of the Hon.Melvin Hulse, to have the vendors remain .
AND agreed in principle to allow these humble Belizeans to purchase the land where they are doing business.
There really was no demand from the Fire Service for the land.
The Fire Service is a department and cannot make demands for land or otherwise without the sanction of Central Government.
The Belmopan City Council has gone on mute and has no comment on this public flogging by G.O.B.
Belmopan is the first population centre to make the P.U.P. a "third party".
The PLUS TV segment featured disgruntled market vendors who have operated from an open space next to to Belmopan Fire Station for over a decade.
The Belmopan City Council had apparently given them their marching orders. Same as they have done to dozens of poor "squatters" in other areas that helped vote them into office.
The next move I think is to Organise a Squatters Rights Movement to stymie the Belmopan City Council's ambitions in this area.
I am sure the Hon. Ramon Witz would support this movement.
The Mayor appeared on T.V. claiming that the vendors were being given the heave-to as the National Fire Service wanted its land.
Now, not to disrespect the Mayor, but a "friend" of mine had some time ago made research into the land as he wanted to buy it.
His research showed the land belonged to G.O.B. but was reserved for "possible" future expansion of the fire station.
Now Belmopan proper REQUIRES all buildings to be constructed with concrete. The city has about one fire a year. It is the most boring job according to one fireman.
We have about three other fires a year but these are in faraway places such as Salvapan, Maya Mopan and San Martin where poor people are allowed to build wooden structures. Ergo, any expansion would logically be a fire station in those areas.
In the interview the Mayor made a tortuous argument why the vendors had to leave. The fire station wanted its land.
His Lordship suggested that they might be able to move the vendors to the boondocks in San Martin but admitted when questioned by PLUS TV that they would not be able to make a living in that area.
Asked how these vendors were operating illegally as the BCC claimed, when in fact the BCC had granted them Trade Licenses, His Lordship wasat a loss for words.
Most people in Belmopan feel this move MAY have been a stunt similar to what happened to the land reserved for the new bus terminal - it ended up in the hands of certain folks those in the know, know who they are. The 30 year old bus terminal is still in the same location, has been given a fake face lift, and has buses thundering into a now very congested pedestrian area.
Anyways, as is wont to happen, a major power took place between rivals where the poor vendors ended up as winners.
The vendors contacted area representative Hon. John Saldiver who immediately went to bat for the vendors.
Thanks to his intercession, G.O.B. has thwarted the Belmopan City Council's plan to get its hands on the land.
Agreed in principle with the support of the Hon.Melvin Hulse, to have the vendors remain .
AND agreed in principle to allow these humble Belizeans to purchase the land where they are doing business.
There really was no demand from the Fire Service for the land.
The Fire Service is a department and cannot make demands for land or otherwise without the sanction of Central Government.
The Belmopan City Council has gone on mute and has no comment on this public flogging by G.O.B.
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