BCL, council in land dispute

The land is needed for the expansion of the bus and taxi rank and has been occupied by BCL under a 50-year lease. The council has given BCL until May 11, to vacate the land but the company has demanded compensation from the council if the lease is terminated prematurely. BCL has constructed a sports and recreation facility on the land adjacent to the central business district. The facility includes a softball pitch, a tennis court, a swimming pool and two bars.

A committee consisting largely of senior BCL employees is reportedly contemplating legal action. "A court battle looms. The council wants to reclaim the land without compensating BCL for the properties which has sparked the dispute," an inside source at BCL said.