A major decision handed down today by the high court could end up costing the government many millions of dollars in damages.
It has to do with a large land transfer of four parcels finalized by the last government in August of 2020. But when the new government was elected, it cancelled the transfer, deeming it as suspicious.
The just under 2,000 acres of land in the Duck Run area was purchased from the government by a company named Fowler Works Enterprises for just under 300,000.
Not linking the smell of it, the new government refused to transfer the four Parcels to Fowler Works even though their purchase price had been paid.
One of the issues was that such a large transfer of national lands exceeding 500 acres must go to the national assembly for approval - and it had not.
But Justice Chabot found that the Sale Agreements did not breach any policy or requirement and they are all valid. Where there were breaches - that was the government's fault and - the judge found - not enough grounds to invalidate the sale.
She found all four Sale Agreements to be valid, and the government liable for not honoring them. Fowler Works will now seek damages - and with one of the parcels at almost 1900 acres - the claim is expected to be substantial. Fowler was represented by Dean Barrow.
