WEST Rennell Island Task Force will challenge Asia Pacific Investment Development (APID) in a court case expected this month.
Former Premier of Renbel Province, Timothy Johnson told the Solomon Star in an interview that the west Rennell task force established by the customary landowners to whom he is a member will challenge APID in court in an attempt to deregister land acquired by the company under its logging license.
Mr Johnson said, the task force believes that the process of registration which allowed acquisition of West Rennell customary land by APID was not legally proper.
Mr Johnson alleged many customary land owners were not aware of their rights being infringed by the land acquisition process which eventually allowed APID the right of access to their customary land.
He said, aggrieved customary land owners from west Rennell Island, are in full support of the task force pursuing legal proceedings against APID.
He said, the aim of the task force is to seek legal order from the court for APID to de-register customary land tittles acquired under the company’s logging license.
APID officials could not be contacted for comment on the allegations when this paper went to print.
By BIRIAU WILSON SAENI
