The government's quest to divest several state-owned
sugar factories could face trouble if the original owners of the Hampden Estate
succeed in their legal battle in the High Court.
On Tuesday the Supreme Court granted lawyers representing Hampden Estate Limited an extension of an injunction which now blocks the sale of the assets of the factory, located in Trelawny.
Hampden Estate, Bernard Lodge, Monymusk, Frome and Duckenfield are on the list of factories on the auction block.
However, the original owners of the Hampden Estate are not in agreement with the divestment and obtained an injunction in April to block the government's planned sale.
The injunction was further extended Tuesday to June 18 by Ms Justice Gloria Smith.
Hampden has sued the Sugar Company of Jamaica, the Trelawny Sugar Company which operated the factory and the former receiver/manager John Lee in its objection to the divestment.
The Hampden Estate was taken over by the Financial Sector Adjustment Company- FINSAC in the 1990s during the financial meltdown.
It was later placed into receivership.
The government is now seeking to sell the factory as part of its divestment of the local sugar industry.
The Supreme Court is to hear submissions from both sides when the matter resumes on June 18.
On Monday night, Agriculture Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton told the RJR News Centre that the government has short listed four companies to bid for the state-owned sugar factories.
The four bidders comprise mainly local companies with ties to the sugar sector.
On Tuesday the Supreme Court granted lawyers representing Hampden Estate Limited an extension of an injunction which now blocks the sale of the assets of the factory, located in Trelawny.
Hampden Estate, Bernard Lodge, Monymusk, Frome and Duckenfield are on the list of factories on the auction block.
However, the original owners of the Hampden Estate are not in agreement with the divestment and obtained an injunction in April to block the government's planned sale.
The injunction was further extended Tuesday to June 18 by Ms Justice Gloria Smith.
Hampden has sued the Sugar Company of Jamaica, the Trelawny Sugar Company which operated the factory and the former receiver/manager John Lee in its objection to the divestment.
The Hampden Estate was taken over by the Financial Sector Adjustment Company- FINSAC in the 1990s during the financial meltdown.
It was later placed into receivership.
The government is now seeking to sell the factory as part of its divestment of the local sugar industry.
The Supreme Court is to hear submissions from both sides when the matter resumes on June 18.
On Monday night, Agriculture Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton told the RJR News Centre that the government has short listed four companies to bid for the state-owned sugar factories.
The four bidders comprise mainly local companies with ties to the sugar sector.
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