Gov’t RIPEL talks in Brisbane
A top level Government delegation is in Brisbane, Australia for talks with the owners of the Russell Islands Plantation Estates Ltd (RIPEL) in a move to settle the $50 million buyout of the Alligator Creek land on the outskirts of East Honiara.
Delegation members who left Honiara yesterday included Attorney General, James Apaniai, Chief of Staff, Robson Djokovich and others.
Among those who would be at the three-day talks is Patrick Wong. Mr Wong had been out of the RIPEL scene for quite some time due to an internal battle with his co-financier van Vlymen resulting in a falling out in recent years.
The outcome of the Brisbane talks is going to be interesting, particularly the position taken by the Attorney General Chambers in relation to a High Court ruling which awarded an $80 million payout against the government.
In his view the Attorney General has argued the government should never spend the amount awarded by the High Court. Instead, it could repossess the entire RIPEL land using the new amendment to the Lands and Titles Act.
His view had driven a wedge between Patrick Wong’s protégés such as former Finance Minister, Peter Boyers who used the issue to the point of almost breaking up the DCC government late last year.
Mr Boyers has since repented and is now a big supporter of the Government. He is the Chairman of the Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (SINPF), which recently provided the government a $150 million loan in the form of bonds in March this year.
In a statement issued at the time, the government said it was looking at the possibility of yet another loan of the same amount from the SINPF in order to pay for national projects identified in its development policy.
Of notable absence from the delegation is the Member for Savo/Russell, Hon Dickson Mua, who is also the Chairman of the Cabinet subcommittee on RIPEL. He could not be contacted for comments last night.
It is understood one of the reasons for the talks being held in Brisbane is because Mr Wong would be arrested if he should set foot in Solomon Islands.