THE Board of the Copra Export Marketing Authority (CEMA) is due to meet next month to discuss actions to be taken in retrieving a $1 million businessman Alex Bartlett advanced as a down payment on a $7 million deal for the sale of Hammock Beach to CEMA.
Published reports suggest that it was in August this year that Mr. Bartlett was negotiating the sale of Hammock Beach in West Honiara to CEMA. Initial reports suggest CEMA entered into a Sales Agreement with Hatanga Ltd for $7 million.
CEMA and Hatanga Ltd allegedly agreed on a downpayment of $1 million to secure the Hammock Beach site. It was intended as warehouse to store cocoa and copra from the provinces.
Under the deal, Hatanga Ltd had six months to vacate the land by which time CEMA would pay up the balance, according to a report published by Solomon Star on 17th August 2024.
CEMA has denied having entered into such a deal and is demanding a full reimbursement of the $1 million payment.
In August this year, the High Court ruled against Mr. Barlett in his effort to transfer perpetual estate titles over 10 parcels of land in Russell Islands. The titles were held by the Sevev Land Trust Board, which Mr. Bartlett helped initially to obtain the titles.
Civil Case No. 165 of 2023 was between the Sevev Land Trust Board, John Holosango, Steven Taroniara and Justin Venevii as co-claimants on one side and businessman Alex Bartlett, the Commissioner of Lands and Registrar of Title as co-defendants.
According to court documents, Mr. Bartlett had applied to the High Court to have the titles of 10 perpetual estates transferred to his name. These titles cover PN 177-006-4, PN 177-006-3. PN 177-006-1, PN 178-001-1, PN 177-003-2, PN 177-004-3, PN 165-002-121, PN 177-004-2, PN 177-007-1 and PN 177-002-1.
The titles were initially held by the Sevev Land Trust Board, which Mr. Bartlett helped to obtain them.
Puisine Judge Justice Lawry handed down the judgement against Mr. Bartlett on 6th September – fifteen days after the case was heard in the High Court on 23rd August this year.
The court was told Mr Bartlett had failed to contest a default judgement registered against him.
A spokesman told Solomon Star at the weekend the Board would meet on or about the 20th November to discuss the matter. All previous attempts have failed.
All previous attempts to have Mr Bartlett repay the debt resulted in an alleged threat that CEMA would not be allowed to buy copra and cocoa from Russell Islands.
But the High Court clipped the threat by ruling against Mr. Bartlett.
Puisine Judge Justice Lawry handed down the judgement against Mr. Bartlett on 6th September – fifteen days after the case was heard in the High Court on 23rd August this year. The court was told Mr Bartlett had failed to contest a default judgement registered against him.
The titles have now been returned to the Sevev Land Trust Board, according to the judgement.
“On 23rd June 2023 the Court heard an application for a default judgement. Counsel for the Claimant and counsel for the 2nd and Third Defendants were present, there was no appearance by or on behalf of the First Defendant, the Court heard.
“Judgement was entered by default removing the First Defendant as the proprietor of perpetual estates in PN 177-006-4, PN 177-006-3. PN 177-006-1, PN 178-001-1, PN 177-003-2, PN 177-004-3, PN 165-002-121, PN 177-004-2, PN 177-007-1 and PN 177-002-1 and restoring the name on those titles to Sevev Land Trust Board,” the Judge ruled.
By Alfred Sasako
