Please beware!!.. Do not believe anything Darin Smith or Stacy Rene Smith say about life in Belize, land purchasing in Belize, Gardening in Belize, becoming citizen or resident of Belize. They are clue less & will only tell you what you wanna hear for them to deceive you to purchase in "their" Community.
Please do your own research & connect with other expats who have lived in Belize much longer ask lots of questions & seek legal counsel to verify anything related to Biospharms or Smith "Orphanage".
I learned of the so-called Christian community "Biospharms" on their website in April of 2014. I made contact with the developer, Darin Smith on April 22nd, 2014. Darin and I exchanged dozens of emails as I inquired about the possibility of leaving the western world and moving to the Belizean countryside for a simpler life with my wife and two school aged children. Darin was very helpful and charming, and we even spoke on Skype on a couple of occasions to discuss all of the details. We decided to make a visit to the property in May 2015 and see for ourselves whether or not Biospharms was a legitimate option for us to consider.
We arrived in Belize for a short 3-day tour of the area and Darin showed us around Biospharms and the wider community as well. There were five other homes occupied full time at that time, and we met with and enjoyed getting to know four of them.
They seemed happy with their living situation on Biospharms and so we felt very comfortable making the decision to buy a 0.6 acre lot with a custom build 900sqft cabin for 58,700USD. The land was not yet titled, but Darin stated that he was setting things up legally and our ownership (via “quit-claim deed”) was just as good as a title.
The first few months we spent at Biospharms were a joy, the community had fairly good relationships, and we were starting to truly love one another as a family. However, during our regular meetings, we started pressing Darin for more information regarding the legal structure of the development, and what progress was being made towards a permanent legal structure for the land ownership. At that time (August 2014), the land was titled as a single parcel in Darin’s own name. We also discovered that the quit-claim deeds that he was giving to owners after full payment were not even signed by him (the owner), but by his father. Within a few months after exposing this unsubstantiated fact, he rewrote the quit-claim deeds and signed them himself, as they should have been in the first place.
In November 2014, we had a meeting where nearly all of the full-time owners met and discovered Darin was no longer considering seriously pursuing a legal subdivision, but rather had decided (unilaterally) to place the entire development into a trust. Immediately many of us started voicing concerns about this proposed legal structure. We (with several others) began demanding that Darin complete the subdivision and supply us titles for our individual lots. Darin has been saying ever since that he is working on it, that he is waiting for bureaucratic red-tape. However, we have checked with the government offices responsible for these actions, and they report that he has never even filed an application for subdivision (the first step in the process).
As time moves on, we have learned that before we moved to the property in 2014, there had been a trail of at least eight (8) other clients who bought into Biospharms, felt manipulated and deceived, and questioned Darin’s methods. Each one (facing Darin on their own) was made to feel intimidated, discouraged, and even scared, and ended up leaving Biospharms at severe financial loss. Right now, there are seven (7) current owners who have filed lawsuits in Belize over the matter. We are all hoping to get things resolved as peacefully as possible, however, Darin is so manipulative and deceptive, we have all lost complete trust and faith in him. This seems to be the only viable course of action.
I am writing this report in an effort to help others avoid the problems so many have already faced at Biospharms. Darin seems to want strife and dissension, and is constantly spreading nasty rumors about his “enemies” in order to destroy their reputations, and in order to tear down their spirits. However, the seven who are currently fighting this scam in the legal channels are standing strong and we will see this through. The problem is, that Darin is still trying to con more people into buying lots, increasing the resources available to him for fighting us legally.
Please be warned, if you are looking for a nice, low-priced retreat, with the benefits Darin claims of Biospharms, KEEP LOOKING….this is not the solution for you. God bless you all.
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.
Sometime late in 2010, I, John Michael Poirier, was contacted by Darin Smith about my book, Prophecy: Hidden in Plain Sight. In our many conversations over many months, Darin Smith told me about what he was doing in Belize; that he was creating a “self-sustaining, Christian Community”, and supporting an orphanage mission. My daughter was getting married in Florida in May of 2012, so my wife and I decided to visit Belize and further investigate.
Upon returning to the US, my wife and I decided that we would change our lives. We would work in Belize doing missions. We purchased a house/lot package from Darin Smith in his “Biospharms Development”. As I owned businesses stateside, and my wife had a career, this was a huge move. We sold or gave everything away and moved to Belize. When we arrived at Biospharms, we found our property incomplete and in a shambles. Less than half of the 40 fruit trees contracted for were planted. The house was not built according to the design agreed upon. There was no rain water collection system. There was no bathroom facilities/outhouse. The garden area was not tilled as promised and was mostly rocks. Sustainability was impossible, due to the lack of soil.
We paid Darin Smith and Biospharms, $36,600 USD, between checks, cash and a wire transfer. We paid for our home and “subdivided lot” in full. Over the next 2 years, we requested receipts and documentation regarding the transaction. To this day Darin Smith has refused to provide these (though we have wires and cancelled checks fortunately). Darin Smith has evaded every request and never provided us with the paperwork requested. What reputable “developer” does that?
By July, 2014, we had been researching how to get title to our land and establish ownership in our names with proper documentation. This way we could at least sell our home if necessary. We discovered that there is no record of Biospharms, Inc. in the system at the Lands and Title Ministry, nor was there any record of the Biospharms parcel. We further discovered that the 43 acre property is owned personally in Darin Smith’s name, is not even subdivided legally and there has never been a survey registered (the first step in the process) or an application to subdivide or survey. To this day, neither Darin Smith, nor the corporation, known as Biospharms, Inc., has applied to survey or subdivide the land. He has had 5-6 years to do this.
We have repeatedly asked Darin Smith for our money back. Darin Smith has stated to us and in front of witnesses that he will never give us our money back. On December 1, 2015, our water was disconnected, even though we owed no money to the Water Commission of Los Tambos. Darin Smith has made our lives very difficult. We write this to warn anyone considering a land and house package from Darin Smith. Consider who you are doing business with. We, and several others, are suing him for our money back for fraudulent misrepresentation of what was paid for, but never delivered. We, and 8 others, have also filed ic3 forms with the FBI in the United States, claiming the above claimed deceptions of Darin and Stacy Smith Of Biospharms, Inc.
Biospharms Inc Reviews
Caution
Please beware!!.. Do not believe anything Darin Smith or Stacy Rene Smith say about life in Belize, land purchasing in Belize, Gardening in Belize, becoming citizen or resident of Belize. They are clue less & will only tell you what you wanna hear for them to deceive you to purchase in "their" Community.
Please do your own research & connect with other expats who have lived in Belize much longer ask lots of questions & seek legal counsel to verify anything related to Biospharms or Smith "Orphanage".
I learned of the so-called Christian community "Biospharms" on their website in April of 2014. I made contact with the developer, Darin Smith on April 22nd, 2014. Darin and I exchanged dozens of emails as I inquired about the possibility of leaving the western world and moving to the Belizean countryside for a simpler life with my wife and two school aged children. Darin was very helpful and charming, and we even spoke on Skype on a couple of occasions to discuss all of the details. We decided to make a visit to the property in May 2015 and see for ourselves whether or not Biospharms was a legitimate option for us to consider.
We arrived in Belize for a short 3-day tour of the area and Darin showed us around Biospharms and the wider community as well. There were five other homes occupied full time at that time, and we met with and enjoyed getting to know four of them.
They seemed happy with their living situation on Biospharms and so we felt very comfortable making the decision to buy a 0.6 acre lot with a custom build 900sqft cabin for 58,700USD. The land was not yet titled, but Darin stated that he was setting things up legally and our ownership (via “quit-claim deed”) was just as good as a title.
The first few months we spent at Biospharms were a joy, the community had fairly good relationships, and we were starting to truly love one another as a family. However, during our regular meetings, we started pressing Darin for more information regarding the legal structure of the development, and what progress was being made towards a permanent legal structure for the land ownership. At that time (August 2014), the land was titled as a single parcel in Darin’s own name. We also discovered that the quit-claim deeds that he was giving to owners after full payment were not even signed by him (the owner), but by his father. Within a few months after exposing this unsubstantiated fact, he rewrote the quit-claim deeds and signed them himself, as they should have been in the first place.
In November 2014, we had a meeting where nearly all of the full-time owners met and discovered Darin was no longer considering seriously pursuing a legal subdivision, but rather had decided (unilaterally) to place the entire development into a trust. Immediately many of us started voicing concerns about this proposed legal structure. We (with several others) began demanding that Darin complete the subdivision and supply us titles for our individual lots. Darin has been saying ever since that he is working on it, that he is waiting for bureaucratic red-tape. However, we have checked with the government offices responsible for these actions, and they report that he has never even filed an application for subdivision (the first step in the process).
As time moves on, we have learned that before we moved to the property in 2014, there had been a trail of at least eight (8) other clients who bought into Biospharms, felt manipulated and deceived, and questioned Darin’s methods. Each one (facing Darin on their own) was made to feel intimidated, discouraged, and even scared, and ended up leaving Biospharms at severe financial loss. Right now, there are seven (7) current owners who have filed lawsuits in Belize over the matter. We are all hoping to get things resolved as peacefully as possible, however, Darin is so manipulative and deceptive, we have all lost complete trust and faith in him. This seems to be the only viable course of action.
I am writing this report in an effort to help others avoid the problems so many have already faced at Biospharms. Darin seems to want strife and dissension, and is constantly spreading nasty rumors about his “enemies” in order to destroy their reputations, and in order to tear down their spirits. However, the seven who are currently fighting this scam in the legal channels are standing strong and we will see this through. The problem is, that Darin is still trying to con more people into buying lots, increasing the resources available to him for fighting us legally.
Please be warned, if you are looking for a nice, low-priced retreat, with the benefits Darin claims of Biospharms, KEEP LOOKING….this is not the solution for you. God bless you all.
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.
Sometime late in 2010, I, John Michael Poirier, was contacted by Darin Smith about my book, Prophecy: Hidden in Plain Sight. In our many conversations over many months, Darin Smith told me about what he was doing in Belize; that he was creating a “self-sustaining, Christian Community”, and supporting an orphanage mission. My daughter was getting married in Florida in May of 2012, so my wife and I decided to visit Belize and further investigate.
Upon returning to the US, my wife and I decided that we would change our lives. We would work in Belize doing missions. We purchased a house/lot package from Darin Smith in his “Biospharms Development”. As I owned businesses stateside, and my wife had a career, this was a huge move. We sold or gave everything away and moved to Belize. When we arrived at Biospharms, we found our property incomplete and in a shambles. Less than half of the 40 fruit trees contracted for were planted. The house was not built according to the design agreed upon. There was no rain water collection system. There was no bathroom facilities/outhouse. The garden area was not tilled as promised and was mostly rocks. Sustainability was impossible, due to the lack of soil.
We paid Darin Smith and Biospharms, $36,600 USD, between checks, cash and a wire transfer. We paid for our home and “subdivided lot” in full. Over the next 2 years, we requested receipts and documentation regarding the transaction. To this day Darin Smith has refused to provide these (though we have wires and cancelled checks fortunately). Darin Smith has evaded every request and never provided us with the paperwork requested. What reputable “developer” does that?
By July, 2014, we had been researching how to get title to our land and establish ownership in our names with proper documentation. This way we could at least sell our home if necessary. We discovered that there is no record of Biospharms, Inc. in the system at the Lands and Title Ministry, nor was there any record of the Biospharms parcel. We further discovered that the 43 acre property is owned personally in Darin Smith’s name, is not even subdivided legally and there has never been a survey registered (the first step in the process) or an application to subdivide or survey. To this day, neither Darin Smith, nor the corporation, known as Biospharms, Inc., has applied to survey or subdivide the land. He has had 5-6 years to do this.
We have repeatedly asked Darin Smith for our money back. Darin Smith has stated to us and in front of witnesses that he will never give us our money back. On December 1, 2015, our water was disconnected, even though we owed no money to the Water Commission of Los Tambos. Darin Smith has made our lives very difficult. We write this to warn anyone considering a land and house package from Darin Smith. Consider who you are doing business with. We, and several others, are suing him for our money back for fraudulent misrepresentation of what was paid for, but never delivered. We, and 8 others, have also filed ic3 forms with the FBI in the United States, claiming the above claimed deceptions of Darin and Stacy Smith Of Biospharms, Inc.