In the October 4th, 2008 issue of the Gazette, a Government publication, a notice for Alex Nuñez was posted. The message stated that the Ministry of Natural Resources was notifying Nuñez of the Government’s intention of acquiring parcel #5429 under the Land Acquisition for Public (purpose) Act. Parcel #5429 has been in a heated, controversial and much heard about dispute, since it is the land that the administrator at Holy Cross Anglican School has been questioning as of recently.
Holy Cross through the Ministry of Natural Resources received title, in 2005, for eight acres of Parcel #5228 but 12.094 acres remained on that parcel. According to Vernon Wilson, official representative for the Anglican Management who has been given authority to conduct business on behalf of Holy Cross, the remainder of the land in question had been promised to the School by then Minister of Natural Resources Honorable John Briceño. Wilson continued by stating that an application to acquire the land was submitted in early 2006 through the then Education Officer Alex Nuñez. On June 1st, 2007, Area Representative Manuel Heredia Jr. submitted a letter of recommendation to the Ministry requesting that the school be granted the additional acreage. On June 5th, 2007, Mayor Elsa Paz wrote to the Wilson’s stating that she and her council could not recommend the acquisition of these additional lands since, “it should be a priority to complete the first phase of the school which is already approved, before moving on to another expansion phase.”
However, Honorable Briceño stated in an interview, that his intention was that the school acquire the remainder of Parcel #5228, but he submitted his letter of resignation to the Ministry and former Prime Minister Said Musa on June 4th, 2007. On June 21st, 2007, Alex Nuñez bought the remaining land and the 12.094 became Parcel #5429. In October 2007, Jeff Pierce, developer for Reef Village, purchased the property from Nuñez.
With the Government’s intention to acquire said property, Nuñez has sought legal advice and hired the services of Attorney Arthur Saldivar. In an interview, Saldivar explained his client’s position and stated that Nuñez is currently seeking a Declaration which states that the land was purchased legally and that the process went through all the necessary steps and procedures. According to Saldivar, since the land in question had been legally purchased by Mr. Pierce, work has commenced on the property. A part of Reef Village, Parcel #5429, has accrued value, especially since condos which are being constructed have already been sold. Saldivar ended by stating that if the Government intends on purchasing the parcel in question, his client will not settle for anything less than US$1Million.
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