Eddie De La Rosa, "The Fish From Rivabattam"

On Friday in the House of Representatives, Minister of Natural Resources Cordel Hyde exposed a major land fraud scheme which he said was orchestrated by UDP political operatives in Cayo.

According to information dug up by Hyde's team since taking over the ministry: the schemers would use government databases to take the names and social security numbers of persons requesting assistance from government. From there, lands would be placed in these names - without the persons ever knowing - and then transferred to UDP personalities.

One man who says he knows all about it is Eddie De La Rosa. He's a former UDP political operative now living in the US. He says he moved there for his own safety. He told us today that what Hyde exposed is just the proverbial tip of the iceberg.

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Were there other people whose names were used based on their Social Security information without their knowledge?"

Eddie De La Rosa, Former Montero Operative
"Jules, I believe those are. Well, I noh believe. I know those are just, not even the beginning Jules, to tell you all what I know and what I have evidence for. So those are not even nothing compared to what I know and what evidence I have."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"How many parcels of land would you say were obtained in this manner using this scheme?"

Eddie De La Rosa, Former Montero Operative
"Ahm, more than 50 for sure, Jules, more than 50, more than 50, I wouldn't give you a specific number because I want to tell the Belizean people with the...I want to give evidence for, I want to keep my credibility strong."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"But, soh were these lots, were these individual lots? Or were they acreages, farmlands?"

Eddie De La Rosa, Former Montero Operative
"We had a lot of cases, they had a lot of cases where they were lots and a lot of acreages, I mean you heard it in the house, I mean there is a lot, a lot of acreage."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Was this happening only in the Cayo District?"

Eddie De La Rosa, Former Montero Operative
"Ah, no sir. No sir. Cayes, out in the cayes, mostly, and, in Santa Elena and in some other villages, noh? But I would really like to see something to be done if as much as returning these properties or these lands to the humble people of Caye Central, noh?"

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Was it only land fraud schemes?"

Eddie De La Rosa, Former Montero Operative
"(Laughs) Jules, there are lot more than you can ever imagine."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Are you prepared to offer evidence, for all these things you assert?"

Eddie De La Rosa, Former Montero Operative
"I'm not prepared, I'm ready Jules, I'm just waiting for the lands department to do their proper investigation - I'm not prepared, I've been ready. I will be cooperating with the Ministry of Lands, or the police department, or the audit department or the immigration department, or whichsoever ministry contact me to give them information, I am willing to."

De La Rosa will appear on Plus TV's Rise and Shine tomorrow - where he says he will talk about a fraudulent visa program he is also aware of.

We reached Rene Montero Sr.'s attorney, his son Rene Montero Junior for comment this evening. He told us, quote, "we will immediately file claims against any media house that makes defamatory statements against my client.

Making a statement does not mean it's true and you are being forewarned that we will sue against these baseless and untrue allegations."

Channel 7

UDP Standing By Montero, Sorta

The opposition UDP has been rocked by an expose of major land fraud - which allegedly occurred in Cayo Central during the term of former Minister of Works Rene Montero. This is according to documentation unearthed by the new minister of Natural Resources Cordel Hyde.

In Friday's House Meeting, he alleged that functionaries of Mointero operated a scheme where lands were put in the names of persons who had no idea their identities were being used. This was done by accessing their social security number and signature after these mostly needy persons applied for assistance under Christmas Cheer and other programs.

From there - the allegation is that lands would be put in these person's names without their knowledge and then allegedly flipped into the names of political, family, or company associates of Montero.

Again, that is the allegation laid out by Minister Hyde in the house, and corroborated by former UDP political operative Eddie de La Rosa - who worked closely with Montero.

De La Rosa alleges it happened to hundreds of people without their knowledge - an allegation which, if true would be consistent with a government closer to a kleptocracy than a democracy.

Today, the UDP party chairman and former ranking Minister Michael Peyrefitte said they cannot jump to conclusions based solely on the unproven allegations of a PUP Minister:

Michael Peyrefitte, Senator
"If people have evidence then bring the evidence, if there was any wrongdoing then they'll go from there but you can't just allege you have to bring evidence, then if the state decides that they want to make any move then Mr Montero has all rights."

"We will become concerned if and when credible evidence is produced, not just hearsay, not just innuendos, evidence. So we will look at the evidence then we will have a discussion on it and take a position on it. But like the party leader has made very clear, if anybody is found to be guilty of any wrongdoing in the past administration he will not be one to defend it because we must stand on principle as a political party because wrong is wrong however we are not going to crucify somebody who belongs to our party simply because a PUP says he was an allegedly guilty of something."

Again, this has been alleged also by Eddie De La Rosa, who for many years, was a UDP inside operator.

Channel 7