Forestry Commissioner: Sunway got it all wrong
Sunway (SI) Ltd together with Mr. Alekoti Alevangana got it all wrong and are confusing themselves with different issues altogether.
Commissioner of Forest Resources responded in an issued statement against continued counter allegations made against the forestry office on the initial revocation of a Technical Marketing Agreement (TMA) between FSC Company Limited and Sunway (SI) Ltd.
Titled, “TMA REVOCATION QUESTIONED: Sunway questions decision to revoke TMA when the matter is before the court, Forestry Commissioner asserts decision is due to alleged fraudulent conduct by Alevangana,” carried in Solomon Star’s front page on Monday.
The response statement says that the title carries half-cooked information and that the entire story is an uncooked mere propaganda.
What must be made clear here is, there are two separate legal issues on which the article mixed up with, and it did not at all distinguish clearly or reveal; but was kept emphasized by Mr Alekoti referring to as quoted, “The Commissioner’s directive to revoke the TMA is wrong. There are legal issues involved, and you and the Commissioner cannot play the judge’s role.”
To be clear, one, is the High Court Case 519/2025 which is a case referred to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) or Memorandum of Repayment Agreement (MRA) between Pacific Everest Lumber Limited (PELL) as the claimant and FSC Company Limited together with Sunway as the defendant.
Secondly is the High Court Case 23/2026. This is the case that deals with the revocation of the TMA as alluded to.
Thus, the HCC 519/2025 is the financial arrangement to which FSC Company Limited and Navatu landowners entered into agreement with Pacific Everest Lumber Limited (PELL) for borrowing money, with a 5 percent interest rate to repay.
This case does not in any way covered claims of the TMA revocation, and that the Forestry office is not a party to both cases.
The issue of TMA revocation is a matter raised to the courts in HCC 23/2026.
This is a case being taken up by FSC Company Limited under the other two directors with majority shares according to the registry of Company Haus records against Sunway (SI) Limited and Mr Alekoti Alevangana in his personal capacity.
The statement went on to clarify that it must also be made clear that, filing of HCC 23/2026 was done on 26th January 2026 whilst the revocation of the TMA was initially done on the 9th of January 2026 prior to this matter going before the High Court.
As such, to say that the Commissioner of Forest Resources acted on the revocation whilst the matter is before the High Court is wrong and an understatement to the current court proceedings.
The action taken to revoke the TMA was done without legal implications then, and that the Forestry Commissioner was exercising its Statutory Powers vested on him under the Forest Resources and Timber Utilization (FRTU) Act.
That decision was subject to due diligence checking, and was done within the bounds of the relevant law, explains the statement.
In fact, the issue was an internal administrative matter for them, raised by complaint to the commissioner’s office. And it does not require field assessment yet, as claimed by Alekoti making reference to mining operations in terms of field assessment.
If the issue is relevant for field assessment to be conducted, yes, such will be done. It is just ridiculous when it’s an administrative matter to settle and Mr Alekoti is trying to interpret getting assessment on the ground.
This is just, not logic.
The statement further clarifies that the Ministry of Forestry and Research as the sole regulator of forest industries in the country, did not intend to prevent FSC Company as the felling license holder from engaging other companies to operate as alluded to
Everyone else has been treated fairly with an enabling conducive environment for all investors on a level playing field.
And it is also paramount that investors comply and adhere to the relevant laws and regulations likewise for those locals whom involve in the industry, it states.
The Forestry statement reiterates that it is rather sad to see Mr Alekoti and Sunway (SI) Ltd are driving their own agenda whilst there are legal issues before the courts to decide.– MoFR Press