Trouble began when a bulldozer tried to clear a road through property off Sanford Drive, Nassau, on Friday.
A row broke out when the driver refused to stop work, saying he was following instructions.
A security firm was then hired to prevent him entering the plot, which he said was going to be the site of a new sub-division.
According to Debora Tomlinson, the 30 acres of land in question, which lies east of the US Ambassador’s residence on the south side of the main road, belongs to the estate of Elodie Tomlinson.
However, she said a “Mr Morris” had also laid claim to the property, stating that he had inherited it. Reportedly, Mr Morris is seeking to develop the property for a sub-division and had contracted A and D Construction, who had already pushed a road through the land.
Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, Mrs Tomlinson, one of the trustees of the property, said the family would be getting an injunction “first thing in the morning” to stop any further bulldozing from taking place. “The property belongs to the estate of Elodie Tomlinson. That’s who actually owns the property – her estate. He (Mr Morris) seems to think that he inherited it. But this has to be settled in the courts, and we will do this in the right way,” she said.
Mrs Tomlinson said her father-in-law had bought the property in the 1960s and that it was “highly unlikely” that he would not have been thorough in ensuring correct ownership of the land.
She said that, in her discussions with Mr Morris, he had agreed to not bulldoze any further into the property, but will continue to the east of where he was previously working. “But we hope to get an injunction first thing tomorrow morning. Apparently this has happened to this property before when my mother-in-law was alive. It is such a nice piece of land, I guess everyone would like to have it,” she said.
However, one thing that upset her most was the “destruction and damage” already done to the area. Until the situation is resolved, Mrs Tomlinson said the security firm they had hired will remain at the property to ensure that no further development takes place.
“This is happening here all the time. Unfortunately, there are some people who can’t afford to fight these things. It’s not fair. Hopefully, this will not happen to other people; but I guess everyone has one of these kinds of stories,” she said.
By PAUL TURNQUEST Tribune Staff Reporter
