Mr Misick denied claims of selling Crown Land, and said he had attracted valuable foreign investment.

BBC: Turks and Caicos profile

Privileged belongers have been sold crown land for as little as 25% of its market value, sometimes flipping it onwards to commercial developers.

ECONOMIST: The Turks and Caicos loses independence

The base is on Crown land and that means planning permission does not have to follow the normal procedure for any development on the site.

BBC: Menwith Hill: Centre of Star Wars storm

The Crown Estate manages land and property owned by the Crown, with profits going to the UK Treasury.

BBC: Nottinghamshire town's 'massive expansion' approved

The proposals were for the 21 turbines to be sited over around 3, 450 acres (1, 397 hectares) of crown-owned common land mainly used for sheep grazing about nine miles (15km) north east of Carmarthen.

BBC: Llanllwni

The Brazilian also said Brawn's championship leader Jenson Button must cope with the "pressure" of leading the title race better if he is to land the 2009 crown.

BBC: Alonso cools talk of Massa 'war'

Nestled in the English countryside just six miles from Windsor Castle, on land still owned by the Crown Estate, successive generations of royal patronage have endowed Ascot with many of its unique traditions.

CNN: Royal Ascot: 300 years of horses, hats and high society

Their land and personal possessions were then divvied up by the church and crown.

CNN: Was Columbus secretly a Jew?