Pound Yard’s last Easter?
Posted: 03/04/2007 - 05:39 PM
Author: City resident, Charles X
“The time to save your country is before you lose it.” Philip S. W. Goldson
Tuesday 3rd April, 2007
The Editor, AMANDALA
Dear Sir,
It may be that I’m becoming a thorn (or just wan lee fly bite) in the side of some politicians, blue and red, on this issue, but how can we TRUST our leaders to cede “not one square centimeter” of the Jewel, when they sit idly by and let 7,700 square yards of our national patrimony slip out of our hands, right in the middle of our city WITHOUT A FIGHT? I humbly beg your indulgence, Mr. Editor, to please let me be that thorn (or da lee fly bite) a little longer, while there is still hope.
The argument by eminent legal minds in both ruling parties that “it’s a done deal” does not inspire confidence, to put it mildly. These are the same lawyers who can appeal the weakest cases on behalf of their clients, to bide time and save them from the gallows or a long jail sentence. But our City’s pride and future plans are not important enough?
There is a deafening silence, a too hasty capitulation by the Queen’s Loyal Opposition, that takes the incumbent Blue party completely off the hook, and leaves the Belizean citizenry seemingly helpless and naked before the rapists of our birthright. “Wait till we get in” is not what we want to hear, because it will be too late by then. (That is why Mr. Hotchandani is pushing for the Council to vacate Pound Yard quickly, so he can rush his construction before the Red “get in”.)
On behalf of City residents, I therefore address the matter directly to the persons who would offer themselves to the electorate of the Mesopotamia Division in Belize City in the coming general elections. Pound Yard is in the Mesopotamia Division. The citizens of Belize City did not instruct the previous City Council to sell Pound Yard, and they didn’t instruct the present City Council to vacate Pound Yard. The settlers in the heart of the Bay did NOT decide to pack up and leave on the 10th of September, 1798. Will today’s descendants of the “Baymen and their slaves” simply pack up and leave without even a whimper?
I hope not. I therefore call upon the people who so far have placed their names before the residents of the Mesopotamia division as their aspiring Representative in the up-coming general elections – MR. MICHAEL FINNEGAN of the UDP; MR. AUSTIN WAIGHT of the PUP; and any other party candidate for Mesopotamia that I don’t know yet, to step forward on this issue and champion the cause of the people, first and foremost.
It would be great if you folks could get together on this issue. What we need is a draft legislation to put before the House of Representatives re-acquiring the Pound Yard Property “for a public purpose”. A modern bus terminal centrally located at the Pound Yard will do wonders for the development of the Mesopotamia Division, and facilitate everyone visiting Belize City from the districts. All the present businesses in the area would also benefit considerably from an “upgraded and expanded bus terminal”; but, on the contrary, quite a few of them may suffer with competition from a “state-of-the-art” shopping mall. And the City would only become more congested in that area.
One other note: The leader of the NRP has quoted some scandalously high figures as estimates of what the major political parties might spend in campaigning for the general elections. Why then is neither the Blue nor the Red saying anything about Pound Yard? Is it okay with you both, that the City’s plans get derailed by “private interests”? Or is the source of your campaign funding somehow connected to people involved with the Pound Yard sellout?
Honourable gentlemen, on behalf of the residents of the Mesopotamia Division and all of Belize City, this one needs to “go back to committee”. Let’s get the ball rolling and hold the action at Pound Yard until we have settled the people’s business right.
Anticipating ACTION,
City resident, Charles X
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