A prime beachfront plot on Belize’s Caye Caulker has become the center of a heated public dispute over land ownership and public development, pitting local community leaders against national government officials. At the heart of the conflict is Parcel 815, a coveted seafront site that was selected in early 2026 as the location for a new, $1.5 million police station project backed by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI).
The national government signed the construction contract for the facility back in January, which is planned to span more than 3,500 square feet and house specialized police units to serve the island community. But by mid-April, unconfirmed reports that construction had stalled began to circulate, sparking widespread rumors that the high-value waterfront parcel could be put up for private sale instead of being used for public safety infrastructure.
In response to these rumors, the Caye Caulker Village Council launched a public petition and organized a local referendum drive, demanding that control of the land be transferred from the national government to the municipal village council to guarantee it remains reserved for public safety use.
However, Elton Bennett, Chief Executive Officer of Belize’s Ministry of Home Affairs, has pushed back firmly against the local council’s request, drawing a clear line on the government’s position. In an on-camera interview for local television, Bennett emphasized that Parcel 815 is formally classified as national land, granted to the central government for official public use. He called the push to transfer the land to the village council “a very strange request”, arguing that there is no logical reason to shift property zoned for a national public service like policing to a local municipal body.
When pressed for clarification on the future of the police station project, Bennett confirmed that while there had been preliminary discussions with CABEI about pausing work and relocating the facility to an alternative site, decision-makers ultimately rejected that option. He confirmed that construction on Parcel 815 will resume immediately, putting an end to speculation that the waterfront site would be sold off.
This article is adapted from a transcribed television news report covering the ongoing dispute, which has drawn significant attention from Caye Caulker residents who rely on consistent public safety services on the popular island.