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Gonzalez, Parham get injunction against San Pedro Town Council

[Linked Image] There is more trouble within the United Democratic Party, which is showing it is anything but united. The latest case of internal infighting involves businesspersons Kevin Gonzalez and Yolanda Parham, two solid U.D.P. names in San Pedro Ambergris Caye and the U.D.P. controlled Town Council. According to reports from the island, Gonzalez and Parham sought and got an injunction against the Town Council restraining the Council from conducting any transaction in respect of part of a parcel of 500 acres of land that was formerly owned by Caribbean Coves and was acquired with title in lieu of taxes by the past Town Council. The prime land is located in the western tip of San Pedro in the region of Journey's End extending to the San Pedro and Mata lagoons. The story is that most of the land in question has been sold off by the Council but apparently Gonzalez and Parham have stakes in the same land. When contacted Kevin Gonzalez offered no comment on the issue and the San Pedro Mayor, Elsa Paz referred us to her Deputy who said the matter is being dealt with but directed us to the Minister Tourism Manuel Heredia who could not be located.

http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=21672


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Town Council Served with Injunction
PUP Requests Decent Answers from UDP


- Press Release - The PUP has in its possession a copy of a court order in which the Supreme Court will listen to a case brought by Kevin Gonzalez and Yolanda Parham against the San Pedro Town Council. The court order is for the San Pedro Town Council to stop selling or dealing with land immediately- land which was formerly property of Caribbean Coves. In lieu of property taxes which were in arrears to the Council, 500 acres of land were then turned over to the San Pedro Town Council. This is the land in dispute because the town council is now selling but Kevin Gonzalez and Parham claim to have a vested interest in this same land. Not happy with the turn of events, Gonzalez and Parham have gotten a lawyer to take the Council to court.

Channel 5 News in Belize City could not obtain any responses from Mayor Elsa Paz who said Deputy Mayor Juan Alamilla is in charge of that land. Alamilla in turn said that he is not in charge of that land and that it is the Honorable Manuel Heredia. The San Pedro community deserves to know why any one person in the UDP is in charge when the entire town council has to approve or disapprove such dealings.

Who gives Kevin Gonzalez authority to sell this land which belongs to the Town Council and he is (was) only a UDP advisor and chairman of NEMO? Who gives Yolanda Parham authority to sell this land when she is only a UDP campaigner and chairperson of the Lands Committee? Who gives the Honorable Minister of Tourism authority to sell this land which belongs to the Town Council? And most important where is all of the money on sales going to? We all await the court ruling but in the meantime the PUP insists that all these high ranking UDP's give San Pedro an explanation. Go over to the Reef Radio Morning Show to explain.

/s/ PUP Executive Committee

Editor's Note: Upon request from both parties involved the San Pedro Town Council sent over the following press release explaining their side of the story. Mr. Gonzalez refused to send any explanation on his part.

Re: Response to Parham/Gonzalez Land Injunction Issue

Press Release - San Pedro Town Council - September 2, 2008 - When the Council decided to embark on the street rehabilitation project, the Council decided to finance the project with the sale of land previously acquired in the Caribbean Coves Area.

With respect to the injunction against the San Pedro Town Council by Mr. Kevin Gonzalez and Ms. Yolanda Parham, the Deputy Mayor received a proposed subdivision from licensed surveyor, Mr. Kenneth Gillett. Mr. Gonzalez expressed interest in purchasing a plot of land from within the proposed subdivision. Mr. Gonzalez and Ms. Parham, accompanied by the Deputy Mayor, went to try and locate the parcel of land but due to the inexperience and lack of professional map reading skills they pinpointed an island which they thought was the specific lot they were interested in purchasing. After negotiations were done both investors entered into a contract for the said island referring to that island as the one provided to the Council by Surveyor Gillett. Following the signing of the contract, another surveyor was hired to survey the island and this is when it was discovered that the island did not measured 19.69 acres but only 7 acres. The investors were immediately informed by the Council about the mistake. In lieu of the mistake the Council was willing to relocate the remainder acres or to negotiate another price for the island since it was less acres than previously anticipated. Until today, the Council remains committed to finding an amicable solution to this error as the sale of this land will benefit the community of San Pedro.

http://www.ambergriscayenews.com/html/archives.php?p=090408#_st4


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And by the way, the 500 acres from Caribbean Coves was not payment for property tax ARREARS. It was PREPAYMENT of taxes for a period of 20 years. The value of the land transferred to the town was credited to the Caribbean Coves Ltd property tax account for a full 20 year term.

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Amanda..What would you estimate the amount of taxes it would have been....and the estimated value of the land?

Last edited by RathaBnBelize; 09/05/08 10:32 PM.
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Amanda - how do you get to know this sort of stuff?!

On the general topic, I think what most people are concerned to know is whether this is an early sign of corruption within the UDP camp, or merely of ineptitude by them or others.

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Originally Posted by RathaBnBelize
Amanda..What would you estimate the amount of taxes it would have been....and the estimated value of the land?


Well, for anybody that has a property tax bill in this town - taxes haven't been very high.

Value of the land in today's market - maybe $20K US per acre (average) some is probably worth more, such as coast line and island, and other areas less, such as swampy areas.

Property taxes would never have added up to anywhere near that amount - but when a company is land rich and cash poor deals need to be made.

The deal worked out well for both parties.

Protech, I know this stuff because I make it my business to know. I was also around and peripherally involved with Caribbean Coves Ltd from day one (can't remember the year but maybe 1982 or so....)

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See, that's why we love you so much Amanda! Talk the talk girl. Caribean Coves is Bob and Dave right?, good guys in my opinion.

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Well, Bob and Dave now own some 2500 acres that they bought from Caribbean Coves about 8 years ago (or so.) Bob had the foresight to see that development would eventually occur on the west coast, and he has positioned himself nicely to enjoy developing some nice resorts and also some great profits. Dave and Bob are making a good team and really making things in the real estate market jump.


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