googleeye,

does make sense what you write, this is pretty natural behavior and unfortunately also pretty common.

People see riches and they all want a pie, but realistically there is not enough to pay off everyone. Canadian mining companies experience this often in many countries around the world. You have to try to be fair but not just start to give out goddies, then they all come and ask for handouts.

The problem in Canada is that we are so civilized that a small group of people who really have no rights or no claim, can stall any development for a very very long time. In less developed countries you can have the same, but as long as you have the government on your side(meaning they will benefit from your activities), these things get resolved much more quickly.