BY NED GAGAHE
The long-running legal battle between Levers Solomons Limited (LSL) and the Solomon Islands Government over the forfeiture and compulsory acquisition of large areas of land in Guadalcanal is expected to go to trial in the High Court starting today.
The trial is scheduled to begin at 9.30am at the High Court and could continue into next week.
The case involves around 780 land titles covering approximately 2,000 hectares of land in areas including Lungga, Henderson, Bloody Ridge, Alligator Creek and Tenaru, where the titles are currently registered under Levers Solomons Limited.
Historical records indicate that Levers, operating under various similar names and different ownership over the years, has held land titles in these areas for more than 100 years.
Most of the land titles involved are Fixed Term Estates (FTEs) which the government has moved to forfeit, based on allegations by the Commissioner of Lands that the company failed to develop and maintain the land for agricultural purposes as required under the terms of the grants.
In addition to forfeiture, some of the FTE titles have also been compulsorily acquired by the government under declarations that the land is required for public purposes.
One such area includes Hells Point, which is currently used by the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF).
Company Haus records show that Levers Solomons Limited is owned by International Comtrade and Shipping (SI) Limited and Lavukal Investment Company Limited.
The dispute dates back to 2020, when the government decided that all Fixed Term Estates held by LSL in Guadalcanal should be taken back by the government.
To implement the decision, the government initiated two legal processes: forfeiture, claiming that the company had breached conditions attached to the land titles, and compulsory acquisition, where land can be taken by the state for public purposes.
Following the decision, the Commissioner of Lands and the Minister for Lands issued public notices on Friday, March 28 and April 3, 2025 to formalise the forfeiture and acquisition process.
However, LSL on April 7, 2025 filed an application in the High Court for urgent interim orders against the Commissioner’s notice, challenging the government’s actions, contesting the legality of the forfeiture notices and the acquisition procedures.
The company argues that the government cannot legally seize the Fixed Term Estate titles through the process used and is seeking to have the decisions overturned.
The matter has resulted in multiple court proceedings and remains unresolved.
Despite the legal challenge, the government has maintained its intention to reclaim the land, while Levers Solomons Limited continues to dispute the move through the courts.
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