The Central Magistrate Court in Honiara has stated that the Certificate of No Appeal issued for Asia Pacific Investment Development (APID) tenement on West Rennell is done according to the Act.
Speaking to the Solomon Star yesterday, an officer from the Central Magistrate who wants his name withheld said, that the decision to give APID the Certificate of No Appeal was done because there were no appeals made to the Customary Land Appeal Court (CLAC) during the three months’ notice.
“If there is a case filed within the three months period stated in the dates of the notice then it is wrong to issue a Certificate of No Appeal, but if there were no appeals made within the given time frame then the decision by the court is correct,” the officer stated.
He added that the issue here is not about clearing pending cases in CLAC, local courts or the High Courts, but a matter of clearance for development purposes.
According to Penrose Palma the final date for any appeal against the proposed tenement for registration by APID ended on March 16th, which is four months ago.
By AATAI JOHN