Taptumol Family v Lopez [1998] VUSC 45; Civil Case 009 of 1998 (26 August 1998)

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF

THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU

HELD AT LUGANVILLE/SANTO

(Civil Jurisdiction)

Civil Case No.9 of 1998

BETWEEN:

TAPTUMOL FAMILY

Plaintiff

AND:

CAMILLO LOPEZ

1st Defendant

AND:

ANDREW LOPO

2nd Defendant

AND:

JEREMIAH

3rd Defendant

AND:

FRANK CARLO

4th Defendant

Coram: Mr Justice Oliver A Saksak

William Lory - Clerk

Plaintiffs are represented by Louis Vatu as Spokesman

All Four Defendants are present.

DECISION

Family Taptumol oli askem Kot blong mekem Oda blong stopem olgeta Defedan oli stop katem timber long ples igat dispute. Mo tu oli askem compensesen long vt30,000 long wan tree we oli katem finis.

Mr Vatu ipresentem case blong Family Taptumol nomo long pepa we istap long kot finis. Hemi no gat witnes.

Mr Lopez hemi toktok hem wan. Hemi katem wud long advaes blong Rolland Tura. Hemi no save se igat dispute. Hemi gat licence blong katem wud we hemi valid blong period Januari 1998 kasem 31 Disemba 1998. Hemi soem original business licence long kot. Hemi talem se problem ia hemi blong tufala famli we igat dispute. Hemi confem se hemi nomo katem wud.

Mr Lopo italem se hemi wan kampani wetem Mr Lopez. Hem tu ino save se igat dispute. Hemi talem se everi royalty hemi pem long Rolland. Olgeta record istap be hemi no soemaot long kot. Hemi talem long saed blong compensesen blong vt30,000 long wan wud hemi cost tumas. Oli pem wud long vt20,000 per head mo vt4,000 per cubic metre. Hemi askem hao nao oli kamap wetem figa blong olgeta? Hemi talem se Rolland i misledim olgeta. Hemi folem wanem Forestry i mekem long hem. Hemi confirm se hemi nomo katem wud long area ia.

Mr Jeremiah i produsim statemen blong hem mo hemi readim long Kot. Kot i readim gud ol toktokt blong hem. Hemi nomo katem wud. Hemi katem 3 stampa wud nomo. Hemi pem vt45,000 from long Joe Tevita. Hemi katem wud from private wok blong hem.

Mr Charles Bradt hemi passem ol toktok long pepa. Kot i readim ol toktok mo kot iharem Mr Bradit italem se Famli Taptumol isut putum ol nara famli long kot be ino olgeta. Kampani blong hemi folem ol prapa rod blong wok. Hemi gat licence. Mo hemi confirm se kampani inomo katem wud long ples ia.

Mr Louis i ansa ova ol toktok blong talem se taem igat appeal, ino gat ona mo evri wok imas stap mo evri samting istap long gavman. Long saed blong compensesen, hemi from damage be ino from cubic metre.

Hemi se mani isut go insaed wan Trust Account fastaem. Hemi se Family Tura hemi save about dispute from olgeta tu iappeal. Hemi stanap strong folem ol klem blong Famli Taptumol. Hemi se Joe Tevita hemi nogat raet blong plesia from hemi blong narafala island. Hemi confirm se inomo gat logging long ples ia.

Folem olgeta toktok kot ifaenem olsem -

(1) Long saed blong ol defenden ino katem wud, ino gat nid blong Kot oda from olgeta defendant oli save nao se igat dispute long ples ia. Mo tu olgeta inomo katem wud long ples ia.

(2) Long saed blong Jeremiah ino nid blong Kot oda from hemi no mekem wan long-termed operation.

(3) Amount blong compensesen hemi dispute mo Famli Taptumol hemi no save provum long kot from hemi no singaotem witness mo pruvum stret damage.

(4) Famili Taptumol hemi sut klem long Famli Tura mo Tevita from royalty be ino olgeta defendants ia.

Folem olgeta findings ia Kot hemi disaed se bambae i dismissim application blong Famli Taptumol. Kot bambae ino mekem wan oda blong oli pem costs.

DATED long Luganville long dei ia 26th August, 1998.

BY THE COURT

OLIVER A SAKSAK

Judge of the Supreme Court