I came into contact with Darin Michael Smith from Ft. Myers, Lee County, Florida on the 23rd of September, 2013 after seeing one of his post on "Tiny Homes" on the Internet.
I emailed him with questions concerning what he was advertising for affordable land lots and cabins in Belize and the starting of Rene's House, which was an orphanage.
He was very open and talkative promoting his farm lands that he showed on his website as being divided in a Los Tombos Subdivision with about 40 lots consisting of 1/2 acre to 2 1/2 acres.
Not only did I review the website at www.biospharms.com where he showed the full development with plot plan, but the packet sent to me showed what was to be an established community with subdivided land lots.
I was told in an email from him that "There are many of us now. Maybe twenty families and ten singles all in total at this point. The average person is a college grad and middle to upper middle wage earner. About half have kids and most everyone plans to move in full time in 2014." (24 Sept 2013 email) I might note now that this was incorrect. The most there has EVER been living there full time, has been about 6-7 families at the same time.
We spoke through a lot of emails back and forth with my questions and his answers. Never once did I feel to question on his sincerity or trust for he talked a lot about being hot on fire with the work of the Holy Spirit and all that which God was doing to see this come about.
However after arriving I found there were only 2 couples and one single man living at the community. One lady had just left her home in November 2014 as she was frustrated with what she found when moving here about 6 months before me. Another property sold the same time as mine and they moved in a couple of weeks later than myself. By what Mr. Smith said, I was led to believe Biospharms was a thriving community. It was not as far as I am concerned – 5-6 other people does not seem “thriving” to me. Over the years I have found many inconsistencies in what Mr. Smith will tell you.
The whole subdivision is not as it was presented online. Biospharms, Inc. in Florida has nothing to do with the property in Belize and is not a registered company in Belize. Nor is the Los Tombos Subdivision actually subdivided or registered. As of recently, it had not even been entered to request approvals for subdivision. This is according to the Belize government through the Title and Land Office.
One of Darin Smith’s sales pitches is that we don't have any costs for utilities for power as all is solar powered. The website even states this. However, there are utility bills in way of propane for the refrigerator, stove and hot water, water costs from the local water company, and cell phone and internet charges. I was told that the water was "Well there is a 5 dollar water bill. I just want to make sure we have full disclosure" (25th Sept 2013 email). In reality it is never that low and in my opinion it is very expensive. I was told the internet tower is available at the farm but it was not for at least 9 months after moving in. You have to add an expensive solar system if you want to do more than charge your phone. The system provided won’t even run more than 1-2 low voltage lights. To my disappointment the batteries for the solar system last only about 2 years and the invertor to make the 120 v does not last much longer. Things are not as cheap as Darin Smith claims. He claims HOA fees, but since no one actually owns their property – how can there be a “home owners association”? It was not until January, 2016 that he set one up a functioning board of directors and HOA, and then homeowners were informed that if their HOA fee is not paid, your water will be disconnected, which is against the laws of the PUC. You will also lose your internet connectivity and you will lose the gate code for use of the locked gate. In other words – you will be locked out of your home you paid for! N The water and internet are owned by different companies and run according to the laws of Belize. Darin Smith claims he can control all because owners have no rights as he and only he owns our land. And this is true, because he never subdivided as he implied to each of us when we bought our lots. Each homeowner paid for their own water installation to their homes and the road way by the inflated building prices which were to include the costs of development. It has been brought to the homeowners attention that the water system did not meet the water companies regulations and is inferior with a ½” line that should be a ¾” line at minimum.
One of the main reasons I went to Belize was that Darin and Stacy Smith presented Rene's House being built as an orphanage. I looked forward to teaching the young girls they said would be coming to their orphanage. Things like sewing, crocheting, canning and preserving foods and painting. The website shows pictures of young girls and is misleading. Now Darin Michael Smith tells us that he intends on bringing girls in from the age or 13 to 18 and calls it a "half way house" to train the girls for employment when they leave. He has informed us that he is asking people in the United States of America to donate $450.00 US a month for EACH girl's support. That is $900.00 BZ for the expenses of each girl which is a lot of money for a child in Belize.
I never received the original contract or loan receipts back with his signature, despite having asked repeatedly in person and in emails for these. I have requested the documents back with his signature but Darin and Stacy Smith have ignored my request. They only sent me "copy" documents which are not binding documents, and without their signatures.
When purchasing my property that he was going to finance it for 4 years. I asked point blank “will I get my titles when I make the last payment”? He said yes, then the land is mine. He never mentioned the "Quit Claim " that came about many months after the homeowners started investigating the property. Quit Claim deeds are not used or legal in the transactions of the Belize law.
It was not until November, 2014 dinner meeting that Darin Smith stated finally and due to pressure, that he "was going one way with the subdivision however I have changed my mind to another" which was to have us all sign up into a "Trust". He would still own everything in his name, and we would be “beneficiaries. Most of us were against this. It was not what we bought into. We declared we wanted the subdivision completed and the Titles given to us first before discussing anything else such as the Trust he was now proposing.
To date, Mr. Smith continues to lie and lead the homeowners on, changing how he is going to own the land. He has disrupted and caused divisiveness in the community with his lies and lack of honesty. He was responsible to do the things developers do – and should have performed before he sold the first lot according to Belize law.
Many people have left over the past 5 years due to the stress and ill ways of how things are being done. There has been damage to some homeowners who are fighting him legally in the courts of law.
Those that moved to Biospharms to live there full time went there trusting that they were purchasing into a Christian community of love and fellowship, and that our community would benefit not only us but the local town of Los Tombos. Sadly, that is not the case.