TRIAL in the case filed against the national government in 2016 by the owner of the Mammal Breeding Centre on Mbungana Island in the Central Islands Province, Dr Bradley Anita concluded in the High Court on Tuesday.
Dr Anita, now deceased, filed a lawsuit in 2016 seeking $31,819,591.03 in damages and losses from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) after authorities raided his dolphin breeding facility on Mbungana Island, Central Islands Province, in the early hours of 29 October 2016.
High Court Judge, Justice Augustine Aulanga adjourned the case to April 17 for closing submissions after hearing evidence from late Dr Anita’s daughter and the Director of MFMR’s Fisheries Department
The Director of Fisheries and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology were named as the first defendants, whilst the RSIPF was listed as the second defendant.
Justice Aulanga directed Late Dr Anita’s lawyer to file written submissions by March 25, while the defendants’ lawyer must submit theirs by April 5.
In the civil suit, Dr Anita claimed that MFMR unlawfully destroyed his property during the 2016 raid and thereby sought compensation.
However, the ministry argued that its actions were justified under the Fisheries (Prohibition of Export of Dolphins) Regulations 2013.
During the 2016 raid, officials from MFMR and the RSIPF released 27 dolphins that were kept in pens.
In 2017, Dr Anita was charged with unlawful capture and caging of dolphins under Section 3 of the Fisheries Management Act 2015 and the Prohibition of Export of Dolphins Regulations 2013.
However, in 2018, the High Court ruled the regulation null and void, acquitting him of all charges.
Dr Anita, founder of the Mammal Breeding Centre, held a license to operate the facility, issued by the Environment Division and Central Province. The center, which was 100 per-cent indigenous-owned and operated, had been in operation since 2011. It developed programmes in captive breeding, aquatic veterinary medicine and research.
Rano & Company represents the claimant, while the Attorney General’s Chambers represents the defendants.
By Assumpta Buchanan
Solomon Star, Honiara
