PM Briceño on Gilroy Usher fence incident: ‘You have to admire him taking his role seriously’

By Breaking Belize News Staff: Prime Minister John Briceño says that while Minister of State Gilroy Usher should have handled a controversial land dispute differently, “you have to admire him taking his role seriously” as an elected representative trying to resolve a problem in his constituency.

Briceño made the remarks on Wednesday when questioned about Usher’s actions over the weekend, when the Port Loyola Area Representative was captured on live video personally cutting down a portion of a fence at the centre of a land dispute.

The Prime Minister said Usher had become “over-anxious” and was likely frustrated while trying to address a land issue, noting that disputes over property have previously resulted in violence and even deaths.

“Would I do it differently? Of course, I’ll do it differently,” Briceño said.

He explained that Usher should instead have allowed the legal process to take its course, including allowing police to address any complaint and having the Ministry of Natural Resources conduct a survey to establish the lawful property boundaries.

Briceño noted that Usher has since acknowledged that his approach was wrong and publicly apologized.

“I think I would not have done it that way, but at the same time, you have to admire him taking his role seriously as a representative,” the Prime Minister said.

Asked whether an ordinary citizen could face legal consequences for doing the same thing, Briceño responded, “I believe so.”

He added that if a person feels aggrieved by Usher’s actions and does not accept his apology, that person retains the right to seek redress through the courts.

Usher has maintained that he intervened in an ongoing dispute over the boundary between neighbouring properties. The incident generated public criticism after video circulated showing the minister personally removing sections of the fence.

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