Dear Editor,

The village council of Billy White Village has been disrespected by area representative and Minister of State Hon. Elvin Penner.  He has totally disregarded the elected village council and insists that all developments, activities etc. will be conducted by his appointed committees.  He has instituted a new Water Board despite the fact that the villagers were against the changes as their previous water board still had some two years to serve the village.  He has formed a lands committee who do not consult with the chairman and council of the village and have recently been measuring (without surveyor) lands in the village and assigning parcels to their party supporters.  Mr. Penner has been invited by the Vilalge Council to a meeting and did arrive at the vilage but left the Council with the villagers waiting for his appearance while he met with his appointed committees in the village in another location and disregarded the Council and the remaining villagers who were expecting him.

These lands currently assigned by the Penner lands committee are not official since they have not been surveyed.  Secondly, many of the people assigned the parcels of land are not legal within Belize and so do not have nationality and not even Permanent residence.  Very often these people semi devlop (clean) the parcel of land and sell the rights to someone else.  This creates problems for the village council since years later when the lands inspectors do appear in the village they reissue the parcels of land and then the confrontation commences with the assumed owners.

Mr. Penner apparently has no experience in government and in governing.  In addition, he addresses our Council as if he were speaking to minors.  He is very intimidating. He belives that he can RAM things down our throats.  We believe the position and authoirty has gotten to his head or he is trying to treat us as if we were working for him at Koops sheet metal.  We would appreciate if the Minister of lands would address this situation.  We have contacted NAVCO (National Association of Village Councils) and they have advised us that what Mr. Penner is currently doing is legally wrong.

Signed

Billy White Village Council