8 May 2008

RIPEL chair at loss over Solomons deportation attempt

5:17 pm on 8 May 2008

The chairman of the Russell Islands Plantation Estates Limited says he still doesn't know why the Solomon Islands government tried to deport him.

Patrick Wong made the comments after the government's failure to forcibly remove him on Tuesday by declaring him a prohibited immigrant.

The Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation reports Mr Wong as saying the government has given him no reason in its deportation attempt, but he believes it was connected to issues surrounding RIPEL.

The High Court quashed the government's deportation order on Mr Wong.

Mr Wong says government needs to have discussion with him on how best to solve RIPEL's problems.

He has offered to surrender the Fixed Term Estate titles of land that is not yet sold in Tenaru and Lungga, provided the government addresses money which RIPEL owed in the experience at Russells.