San Pedro land dispute heads to court

A major blunder by the Lands Department concerning a three hundred by sixty feet parcel near the municipal airstrip in San Pedro has resulted in a huge land dispute between Tropic Air and Construction Depot Ltd., one of several companies registered to Brett and Sean Feinstein of the Benny’s Group.  The situation comes amid a six million dollar development undertaken by the local airline company to expand its operations on the island.  While the project has come to a screeching halt pending litigation, C.E.O. Steven Schulte says he is hopeful that a settlement can be negotiated between both parties. Nonetheless, Schulte told News Five today that Tropic Air is prepared to go to court on Tuesday to defend its claim on the property.  On Thursday, Minister of Natural Resources Gaspar Vega told the media that an initial lease was issued, followed by another for the same piece of land. A title was subsequently granted to the Feinsteins for a property that reportedly was not surveyed and when it was corrected the department discovered that a lease had already been issued to Tropic Air.  And, therein lies the complication.  According to Schulte, proper due diligence was done by the company prior to the start of construction and that a great deal of money, time and labor has been invested in the project at this juncture.  But as we said, it will all be settled in the courts.