Once known as the “Pearl of the Pacific,” Anuha Island Resort in Central Province—renowned for its peace and sanctuary—has remained closed since it was destroyed by arson 38 years ago.
The resort was once a popular destination for Australian tourists, located about two and a half hours from Brisbane and just a 15-minute flight from Honiara.
Behind the idyllic setting, however, controversy emerged. Dutch-born John Meint Smith—dubbed “Cyclone Smith” by Australian media—was accused by former Australian High Commissioner Max Gaylard and resort owner Mike Gore of influencing landowners to burn down the resort.
The island’s development began in 1981 when Gold Coast businessman John Patrick Donnelly secured a 75-year lease from the late Father Robert Pule to establish the resort.
Donnelly later sold the investment to Brian Ray of Pacific Resorts of Australia.
Smith arrived in Solomon Islands in 1987 after being appointed Executive Chef by Pacific Resorts of Australia, then operators of the resort.
He said he met the tribal leader of Anuha Island, Fr Pule, shortly after arriving, and the two developed a strong relationship.
According to Smith, this relationship led to Fr Pule granting him an irrevocable Power of Attorney to protect the island from external influence and pressure.
Smith claimed that after reviewing the lease, he found it had been falsified.
He alleged that although the lease was originally granted to John Patrick Donnelly, it was later altered to include “or his nominee” without proper signatures, allowing it to be transferred and sold.
He said the lease was sold for $300,000 to Pacific Resorts, and later taken over by Brian Ray and other parties.
Smith further claimed that he and Fr Pule raised the matter with then Prime Minister Ezekiel Alebua, who agreed that the lease was null and void.
They then approached public solicitor John Muria to write to Brian Ray stating that the lease was fraudulent and that the company should vacate the island.
Tensions escalated when Fr Pule, along with about 50 family members, entered the resort to assert their position on December 1987.
Smith said no one was harmed, but the action frightened those at the resort. Fr Pule was later arrested, but he won the court case.
Smith said that a week before Christmas, Fr Pule granted him an irrevocable Power of Attorney. On 5 January 1988, the document was formally prepared by solicitor Francis Waleilia, signed, witnessed by a Commissioner of Oaths, and stamped after payment of stamp duty, making it legally valid.
He alleged that his employers reacted angrily and obtained a restraining order preventing him from advising Fr Pule or going to Anuha.
Smith claimed that on 23 May 1988, after the resort hosted a large gathering organised by manager Gordon MacIsaac, the property was burned down the following morning.
He alleged that the fire was deliberately set to allow an insurance claim, stating that several million dollars were later collected from the New Zealand Insurance Company.
At the time, Smith said he was staying with Abraham Baeanisia, a former director of Solomon Islands Development Trust (SIDT), a non-government organisation in his home to seek protection from the enemies.
After the fire, Smith returned to Australia. He claimed that former Australian High Commissioner Max Gaylard arranged for journalist, Chris Masters and a television crew to visit him in Brisbane and invited him to return to Solomon Islands to film a documentary.
Smith said he was given AUD $3,000, while Fr Pule was also given AUD $3,000. He contacted Prime Minister Alebua, who warned him not to trust television crews.
Despite the warning, Smith travelled to Solomon Islands on 9 June 1988 with the crew.
He said he introduced them to Prime Minister Alebua, and they later travelled to Tulagi on Mathias Zaki’s boat and filmed a reenactment at Fr Pule’s village called Andi, involving about 50 people.
Smith said he refused to go to Anuha during filming due to the restraining order, despite being encouraged to do so.
He alleged that this was part of a setup to have him arrested, claiming that the Australian High Commissioner had arranged for the then Solomon Islands Police Field Force to be present.
The following day, Smith returned to Honiara and stayed at the Mendana Hotel.
While filming at the market, he received a letter from his solicitor, Francis Waleilia, stating he was required to appear in court for allegedly breaching the restraining order.
Waleilia also withdrew from representing him.
Smith then engaged another solicitor, Thomas Kama, and obtained a two-week adjournment, as he was due to return to Australia.
He said Prime Minister Alebua and Minister of Education Johnny Tutui both warned him to leave the country immediately or risk arrest.
Smith departed Solomon Islands the next day after police initially attempted to stop him at the airport.
Upon arriving in Brisbane, he said he was stopped and questioned by federal police.
Smith alleged that he had been framed and that Max Gaylard was involved.
He alleged Gaylard was a friend of Brian Ray from their time in the army in Singapore. These allegations have not been proven in court.
Smith further claimed that years later, Fr Pule received $4 million from the government without his involvement, despite, according to Smith, no longer having authority.
He also alleged that a lease was signed with the involvement of former Australian High Commissioner John Starey.
However, a 1999 High Court ruling by Justice David Chetwynd dismissed Smith’s application for a Grant of Letters of Administration for the estate of the late Fr Robert T Pule.
The court granted the estate to the Public Trustee, ordering Smith to pay costs.
Justice Chetwynd stated that Smith’s claim was based solely on the Power of Attorney granted while Fr Pule was alive, noting that such authority ceases upon death.
The court cited Sections 126–128 of the Law of Property Act 1925, confirming that a Power of Attorney is revoked upon death unless specific conditions apply, which were not met in this case.
Smith said he later resolved a warrant of arrest in the High court in Solomon Islands with the assistance of private lawyer, late Andrew Nori, whom he paid to address the matter.
He also claimed that in 2007, a government delegation including George Kuper and Robson Djokovic approached him in Brisbane with an offer of 50 million Solomon Island dollars, to negotiate the lease of Anuha.
Smith said he accepted the offer but the deal was not finalised after Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare was removed in a motion of no confidence.
This after he appointed an Australian citizen, Julian Moti as his Attorney General Julian Moti.
However, the Australia Government wanted Moti to face charges of child sex offences committed in Vanuatu in 1997.
When Sogavare came back in power in 2014, his government made an attempt to negotiate the Anuha’s deal with Smith but failed after disagreements over the compensation amount.
Smith said he is now prepared to return to Solomon Islands and grant a 75-year lease to the government if he is compensated SBD$170 million (approximately AU$30 million) for what he describes as a 20-year arrest warrant and reputational damage.
A 2017 promotional video described Anuha as a 160-acre rainforest island within a coral atoll, featuring fresh water, white sandy beaches, and vibrant marine life.
The resort once offered Melanesian-style villas built from local materials, with modern amenities including electricity, hot and cold water, and dining facilities overlooking a central pool.
Guests enjoyed indoor and outdoor dining, boutique shopping, and high-quality cuisine.
All of this was lost when the resort was destroyed by fire in 1988.
The question which now remains is, when will Anuha’s golden days return?
