Family claims 100-year ownership of disputed 'buried treasure' land

Celeste Nixon -

A family is claiming it has owned the disputed "buried treasure" land at Fortune Hill, San Salvador for more than 100 years.

During a press conference yesterday morning, Dennis Bethel announced that the land being excavated on Fortune Hill belonged to his great-grandfather Nimrod Newton, by way of a Crown grant dated August 8, 1876.

The Newton tract encompasses "47 acres on Fortune Hill and includes an area of the 23 acres owned by Dorothy Black-Beal", Mr Bethel said, adding that the existing boundary makers were erroneously set.

Minister of State for Finance Zhivargo Laing revealed in a town meeting in San Salvador last Thursday that "Dorothy Black-Beal has been the only person found to have clear title" of the land.

Rumors of treasure buried on the land have been circulated in San Salvador for years.

Some believe the island may have been used in the past as a staging ground for pirates and that their treasures may still be hidden in caves in the area.

Mr Bethel claims to possess certified survey plan and a record of all supporting documents from the Department of Lands and Surveys, which he has already submitted to Minister Laing to dispute the boundary markers.

Mr Bethel said he has made numerous attempts to contact the government to have matter investigated but has had no response.

"This is a land matter that they are failing to settle, the government have sided with a foreigner", remarked Mr Bethel.

He again called on Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and Mr Laing to intervene and stop the excavation in order to review the survey plans and properly ascertain the correct location of the Newton land.

Legal action will be taken if nothing changes, Mr Bethel warned.

According to Mr Laing, Mr Bethel will indeed probably have to take this route.

He said: "When people have title to their property, the state has no duty outside of the public's interest from preventing them from doing what they want on their property.

"You can dispute ownership all you want; that is your business. If you want to dispute it, go to court."

Photo Llonella Gilbert

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