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Written by CTV3 Publisher Wednesday, 01 February 2012 03:59

Economy

Back in November 2011, residents of San Juan were up in arms after learning that their parcels of land awarded to them by the Peoples United Party was being surveyed by a group of surveyors allegedly hired by the Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment and Orange Walk North Area Representative Honorable Gaspar Vega. In order for the surveying to take place acres of cane fields were destroyed. The fact that the Government refused to pay compensation for the damages enraged residents even more. With the assistance of P.U.P Orange Walk North Standard Bearer Jorge Briceno legal advice was obtained and a letter was fired off to Government demanding compensation. Today Briceno visited our studios and gave us an update on the situation.

Jorge Briceño, PUP Orange Walk North Standard Bearer

“We had a meeting on Saturday night with some of the land owners and I told them and I have asked my leaders in the party that if the PUP ever forms government again, that we return these lands to the people and I hope that Mr. Vega has an escrow for these new land owner for them to go to court and try defend.  We should reverse these contracts to the original owners and give them the opportunity to pay for their land, with this said aside the land owners still wanting their compensation; in fact they didn’t even want the compensation they want to keep their land because this is what they live from, the cane fields is what they live here in the north so, it is something that we have to protect to them and it is something that we have to fight form them and help them.”

The 30 days given to Government however, has expired. According to Briceno the next step that will be taken is that an injunction will be filed at the Supreme Court. Briceño believes that if the Laws are upheld the parcel of lands will be returned to the residents.

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