Two weeks ago, we told you about the property dispute on San Pedro - pitting leaseholder Tropic Air Limited against property owner Construction Depot Ltd, specifically Brett Feinstein.
Feinstein has the title but Tropic Air had already started work on a multi-million-dollar project on their leased land. Now, that has been halted by an injunction. There is room for compromise, but it won't be easy - as there is very valuable property and quite a bit of money already in the ground, not to mention the corporate egos involved.
So, today both sides ended up in court. Tropic Air had no less than three attorneys on its side: Godfrey Smith, Agnes Segura, and Steve Perera while Construction Depot had one: Eamon Courtenay. The Solicitor General representing the Ministry of Natural Resources was also there.
They went to discuss the matter in Justice Michelle Arana's Chambers and when they were done - there was no compromise. Here's what they told us starting with Tropic Air owner John Greif:..
John Greif - President, Tropic Air
"We are in negotiations for settlement and I don't have any comment at this time, but if the negotiations break down you can come out to San Pedro and I'll have lots to say."
Jules Vasquez
"Are you confident that some settlement cab be arrived at?"
Godfrey Smith, Attorney for Tropic Air
"When in negotiations you are confident until all hopes are lost, so yes we are confident that we can reach a settlement."
Eamon Courtenay, Attorney for Construction Depot
"I think the parties are making a serious effort to settle the matter. I think that there is a real possibility that the matter can be settled. There are a few matters that need to be resolved which is to ensure that Mr. Feinstein and Construction Depot rights are recognize firstly and secondly to ensure that there is no encroachment or continued encroachment by Tropic Air."
Jules Vasquez
"Sir, who is to blame here? Is it an administrative error on the part of the Lands Department?"
Eamon Courtenay
"From what I am able to see I would say that so far as Construction Depot is concern there is no doubt where we are that the title is clear that the intent was to give us the property that was involve and covered by that title, but what you have is a situation on the ground where Tropic Air apparently went beyond what they had by way of a lease."
Jules Vasquez
"Whose fault is this? Is it administrative error at the lands department?"
Godfrey Smith
"I will not get into that except to say our clients equally say that because of the lease they hold they are entitle to the benefit of that lease, but because Mr. Vasquez the matter is under negotiation and all parties are oblige to negotiate in a bonafide manner, I won't comment on those matters at this time."
Jules Vasquez
"Should you client have the benefit of the doubt since they are already occupying a property and work has stop etcetera?"
Godfrey Smith
"All I will say is that I believe that the matter is capable of being solved if all parties continue to act in good faith to reach a settlement."
Both sides will take a few weeks to work on a possible compromise.
Email
Print