BWSL has found itself in a land depute in that island town: the property that houses its water treatment plant was basically sold out from under it - and the water company never even knew. And, now, it could affect the island's future water supply.

That's because BWS is in the process of digging two major saltwater wells for a new reverse osmosis water treatment plant on its property south of downtown San Pedro. These wells are critical for the adequate supply of water in the growing island's future.

But, the company has a major problem -the leased land, parcel 4034 - which it has held for decades, going back to last century - was sold in 2011 to an offshore, Anguilla-based IBC called Crocodile Lagoon Estate Company.

Now, BWSL has a valid 30 year lease in good standing dating back to 2002 - but no one told them anything about the sale of the same property. As often happens in the Lands Department a duplicate lease was created, and then title granted to the Crocodile Lagoon company in 2012. In a telling SNAFU, reports from the island suggest that Crocodile even got approval to subdivide the property before it applied for permission to subdivide.

BWSL didn't know or find out anything about all this until 2018 - but as it stands now, it is holding a lease for property to which another company holds the title. And, it's invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in that property!

And even though - reports from the island tell us that Crocodile paid a very modest $,5,568.00 dollars for the almost one and a half acres, the company has now hired a top law firm claiming damages amounting to many multiples of that purchase price.

In mid-June, the Courtenay Coye LLP wrote to the CEO of BWSL informing him that his company has caused, quote "irreparable damages to the properties, the entirety of which has been appraised at over 1.8 million US dollars," end quote.

And in a whiplash moment, - despite the fact that his client bought the property from under BWS - the attorney Gavin Courtenay writes amiably enough that his client wishes that BWS should, quote, "continue providing improved services to the residents of San Pedro…our client wishes to seek an amicable resolution…and would be prepared to transfer the properties to BWS or the government of Belize for its current market value." End quote.

This, Courtney tidily concludes would, quote, "cure the unlawful nature of the activities currently being carried out by BWS, and compensate our client for the substantial financial burdens it has borne as a result of these works."

We are told the matter has been sent to Cabinet for resolution - but there seems to be no decision taken yet.