Events

Chronology of Events

A chronology of event regarding the Anuha Island affair. 

The late Father R Pule befriends John Smith

The origins of my relationship with the late Father Robert T. Pule, the donor of my irrevocable Power of Attorney and his immediate family member are:-

a) I was minding my own business when a frail old man walked into my bungalow, on a night in October, 1987, where he pleaded my urgent personal assistance in restoring his Land rights and inheritance he claimed to be at risk and would be lost.

b) The frail old man was the late Anglican Priest, Father Robert T. Pule.

c) I had never met the late Father Pule prior to this meeting, nor made any prior arrangement to meet the man before this initial meeting.

d) He appeared very disturbed, and shared with me his concerns and fears in the possibility of losing the ownership and all monetary benefits of Anuha Island under the exciting terms of the lease at that time. The Lessee was my employer at that time and Father Pule the Lessor.

e) He sounded and appeared defenceless and hopelessly lost, while sharing his concerns with me now that he has entered the world of   International Commerce and Business.

f) After deep  thought, and in consideration of the blight of this Native landowner,  I then decided to help the old man in any way I could and  continue my family tradition of assisting to meet the needs of the needy (We have been doing this since harbouring hundreds of war refugees in the cellars of our home during both the World wars).

g) Hence, my commitment to assist in the affairs of Father Pule, at a time when he   and his family were in the legal process of lobbing for favourable conditions for their land.

 

Meeting the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands

At 8.15am on Tuesday, December 12, 1987, I was summoned by the Hon. Prime Minister Alibua to meet him at his office.

After I had sought his advice and assistance as the head of Government, to direct an amicable solution for the Native Land owners, who, in my opinion were slaves in their own land.

I met the Hon Prime Minister, as arranged, with the Union representative of the Resort workers with other Land Owners representatives in a three hours meeting that day in the Prime Minister’s office.

On the same day I was advised that I was barred by the civil Aviation Authorities from re-entering Anuha that same afternoon acting on instructions from my employers.

I was also advised that as a direct result of my decision to stand for the rights of the deceased and his family’s my employment was terminated forthwith, losing my very Promising Career, suffering a tarnished personal and professional reputation and thence, due to calculated fabrication have been denied free excess into the Solomon Islands by the Solomon Island authorities.

I then decide to stick with the local people and stand for their basic human right to their land, a decision, I later would pay the price and am presently paying dearly for. I do not regret that decision so as to maintain my family honour and, to meet the desperate need of a frail old man in need on a cold early morning.

 

Relationship with the whole Pule family and clan

As a result of my new found relationship with the Late Father Pule, his brothers and the whole Pule family, in January 1988 and in September 1989 respectively,  gave their explicit instructions for the execution of Power of Attorney Documents which were thenceforth directed, prepared, executed, attested  and witnessed by a prominent Businessman, a prominent Solicitor and a Commissioner of Oaths of the High Court of the Solomon Islands, wherein, I was appointed the exclusive, irrevocable and unlimited Attorney of all their properties and  interest. 

After my dismissal from my employers in December 1987 I decided to stay on in the Solomon Islands to seek compensation from my Employers, and carry out my mandate under the Power of Attorney Documents by assisting in the operation and affairs of the Donor of the Power of Attorney that of his family and others who wish to glean from my wide Business experiences.

 

Voluntarily returned to Australia in 1988

I returned voluntarily to Australia latter in 1988 after my compensation from my employer was not settled,   and that I need to return to attend to my other Business interest in Australia and Europe which has been badly effected and  our family reputation  as a result of this saga.

 

Journalist Mr Chris Master handy work

Sometime in May 1988, while in Brisbane I was invited to return to the Solomon Islands by an Australia TV group headed by a Mr Chris Masters to produce a documentary on the Solomon Island’s Tourism promotion. Masters added that he was sent by the then Australian High Commission to the Solomon Islands. Click here to watch the documentary.

• 

• 

• 

I later learned and proved the Film crews sinister intentions to set me up with fabricated evidences that I breached an earlier restraining order barring me from setting foot on Anuha Island, and to probably implicate me for the fire that sadly consumed the beautiful resort.

This particular TV group fabricated evidences through professional clipping and cutting of a movie to implicate me as entering Anuha Island in contravention of a Court order that was served to me while temporarily residing in the Solomon. I have since obtained a copy of the dubious TV programme from the National Archive and is in my procession. I have been given rights for use on my personal website and social media.

The circumstance and details of this fabrication is well known to the Solomon Island Police who had made a thorough Investigation and has cleared me of all charges as confirmed to me by the Director of Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Solomon Island’s Royal Police Force who headed the investigation and visited me here in Brisbane in 1997.

 

Alleged fraudulent dealing of Anuha Island Title by the Government of the Solomon Islands

1) Some times in 1995, during the term of the Donor’s natural life and only 7 years from the date of my Power of Attorney, I was informed that Anuha Islands, a real Property covered under the perimeters of my authority has been tempered with and transferred to Government.

2) I have concrete and substantial evidences and documentary proofs that the alleged illegal dealing of a property governed under the terms of the Power of Attorney actually took place with the blessing of the Solomon Island Government and witnessed by serving Senior Australian Diplomat then serving in the Solomon Islands.

3) Also that copies of such transactions are kept in the records of the Solomon Islands Government’s Register of Titles and other relevant authorities.

4) I have never, at any one time before or after the abovementioned dealing of the property, ever altered or varied nor renounced my Powers under the Power of Attorney documents personally or through any legal representative.

5) At  the time of the transfer of the said property, the deceased, who was one of the most prominent and highly moral statesman of the Pacific, was fully aware of the terms of the Power of Attorney documents he himself personally instructed and executed after the documents were explained to him by reputable and trusted Lawyers of the Bar of the High Courts of the Solomon Island, and executed with-in the laws of the Solomon Islands which expressly states his own wishes that all his affairs be exclusively and irrevocable govern by me.

 

Chronology of my honourable attempt to right the wrong on the Anuha saga

1) Pursuant to appropriate laws of the Independent and Sovereign Government of the Solomon Island, which protects my legal and moral rights under the terms of the irrevocable and exclusive documents, I embarked on a mission to put the records straight by employing very graceful and diplomatic ways to put right the wrong committed in the above dealing of a property governed under the terms of the Power of Attorney.

2) I have in the last 33 years, up to now, made volumous written submission and numerous telephone discussions personally with all 7 of so reining Prime Ministers and staff, all Ombudsman and staff, all Attorney Generals and staff, all Commissioners of Police and staff, all Premiers of Central Provincial Governments and staff, Director of Public Prosecution and staff and other relevant and appropriate Government department heads and staff regarding these matters.

3) In April 1998, I was informed by the Press and Pule family, that the Prime Minister’s Government is in the process of finalising the issue of a new Lease to a Foreign Investor without my knowledge and consent as irrevocable, unlimited and exclusive Attorney of the late Father Pule, his brothers and the whole Pule family.

4) I wrote to the then Prime Minister Ulufalu and remind him of his assurance to me before he became Prime Minister and further, caution him of contradicting legal counsel he had received in the matter.

5) The then Prime Minister, like his predecessors, are convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that an amicable solution to the whole case should be made. However, in my view, successive Prime Ministers has subjected themselves to pressures and influences of rouge diplomats and other dubious sources.

6) The   Prime Minister’s Office   have in its records    copies of the deliberations and communications of the previous and present Government’s decision, advice and action on the case. A recent Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s office confirmed a near 2 feet thick file of my case is kept in the Prime Ministers office.

7) I was directed and had discussions with an advisor in the Prime Minister’s Office, a Mr. Edward Unahau here in Brisbane, after my letter of April 1998, and was advised that the Prime Minister had read my letter and is fully aware of and sympathetic of my situation.

8) All Officers of the Prime Minister’s Office since 1995, have full knowledge and facts of the case have failed miserably in taking its advisory role to appropriately and concisely advise all former Prime  Ministers  of  the  situation  and  the  finding  a solution.

9) All-previous Solomon Island Governments, since September 1988 were knowledgeable of the circumstances and details of my case.

10) That one former Prime Minister, in a letter to a fellow Cabinet member and  copied to Premiers of  the Central Province,  Isabel and Guadalcanal,   duly acknowledged  this matter has  become a political football at my expense and I am innocent after making his own investigation through his International contacts.

11) That I have been reliably informed, the Attorney General and his Office, wilfully and purposely, drafted and executed a revocation of Power of Attorney to “conveniently” facilitate the issue of a new Lease on the Island of Anuha, whist having a fair knowledge that the terms of my appointment as Attorney over the interest, real properties and affairs of the late Father Pule, his brothers and the whole Pule family was then current and in fact unlimited, irrevocable and exclusive  as  contained  in  the  instrument  legitimately  drafted,  executed  and sealed by a Commissioner of Oaths registered under the register of the Attorney General’s Office and stamped by the Commissioner of Stamp Duties, again a department of the Attorney General.

 

Australia Federal Police attempt to remove Power of Attorney Document from me

1) In early 1999 in recognition of the authenticity of my Power of   Attorneys the Solomon Island’s Director of Public Prosecution, in an unprecedented action, solicited the assistance of the Federal Police of the Commonwealth of Australia’s assistance to retrieve the original copies of the Power of Attorney document from my person.

2) I did not hand over to the AFP my original copy of the Power of Attorney ;my personal property, as it is my freedom and liberty, as a Citizen of a sovereign Country, to own and enjoy and dispose of at my leisure  without  fear,  according  to  my  basic  human  rights  enshrined  in  the Constitution of Australia and the Solomon Islands and appropriate International treaties both Countries are proud members and are signatories of.

3) Also, mindful of my moral and legal obligation to the Pule family I did not part with the document as it would be an indication of cowardice in its lowest form against the trust and goodwill that was placed on me by the deceased and his family under terms of the Power of Attorney.

 

Terms of Irrevocable Power of Attorney supersedes death of donor

1) On the demise of the donor of the Power of Attorney I applied for grant of Letter of Administration in respect of the estate of the late Father Robert Pule.

2) The then Public Trustee of the Solomon Islands, received my application and I advised the absences of a last and final will of the deceased, there does exist a legal document executed by the deceased and the immediate members of the deceased’s family voluntarily, irrevocably and exclusively placing executive rights and authority over all their rights and interest on me, John Meint Smith.

3) The High Court of the Solomon Islands in a decision of 22 October, 1999 dismissed my application to be grated the Letter of Administration in respect of the estate of the late Father Robert Pule, the donor of my Irrevocable Power of Attorney. The decision failed to consider my Absolute, Unlimited and Irrevocable Power of Attorney duly prepared and executed by reputable and senior members of the Bar of the High Court of the Solomon Islands under the provision of Property Act 1925 Section 126 of the Solomon Island Law.

4) All former Prime Ministers and their respective Governments have been well and truly advised by theirs Legal, Political and Economic Gurus of the genuine motive and my determination to assist Native Land Owner rights who after 28 years are no better but wallow in poverty and cheap politics.

 

Foreign Investors shun away from Anuha for last 33 years

1) Not even a desperate investor would want to look at Anuha Island in its present dilemma.

2) Over the last 33 years numerous investors had contacted me in Brisbane after learning of my irrevocable Power of Attorney.

3) In December 2008 a foreign investor “Sky Airworld” who was interested to develop Anuha may have learnt of my Power of Attorney and lost interest in Investing in the Islands. I had also put in the Solomon Island Newspaper, Solomon Times of 16 December 2008 that I will apply for any injunction against any development of Anuha without my authority.

 

Former Australian High Commissioners to Solomon Islands degrading book and Blogs about the Solomon Island land owners in this Anuha Matter

1) In 2003, a former Australian High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands during the Anuha saga, Mr Trevor H. B. Sofield wrote a book “Empowerment for Sustainable Tourism Development”  had the audacity to use Anuha Island as his case study.

2) In the heading “Anuha Island Resort: A Case Study Of Failure’ Mr Sofield insinuated I had a played a part in the Land owner’s revolt and subsequent burning of Anuha Island Resort.

3) Mr Trevor H B Sofield now a Professor in an Australia University prides himself in the Global Academic Tourism circle with his unsubstantiated claims in his book.

4) He has to one day answer to his global readers and student of tourism and his peers.

5) On February 10, 2013 another former Australian High Commission in the Solomon Islands alleged in his blog https://woollydays.wordpress.com/2013/02/10/max-gaylard-memories-of-a-diplomatic-life/   “The cause of his problem was an irascible Dutch-Australian called John Meint Smith.  Smith had a chequered career in Australia as a resort manager and in a similar role in the Solomons he get the natives restless. He exhorted a group of warriors to force the management team of a resort off the island at spear-point.

6) Gaylard, now a well-respected International Diplomat with an International organisation played a prominent role in the Solomon Islands Police response, by-passing the Solomon’s Foreign Ministry and causing a major diplomatic incident.”

7) One would have thought that Gayland; with his supposed International standing and diplomatic prowess would not stoop to blogs to make unsubstantiated allegations against a law abiding Citizen. One would be forgive to warm toward the idem” A leopard can’t change its spots”. In this case, 33 long years on.

 

Honourable and genuine attempts by the Sogovare Government to resolve the Anuha saga and re-develop Anuha Island Tourism

1) A high powered delegation from the previous Sogavare Government of 2007 visited my place of business here in Brisbane and offered monetary compensation in the amount of AU$50M. I   am of  view that the then Sogavare Government may have then acknowledged and accepted my numerous submissions to successive Solomon Islands Governments  over 25 years (then)  and especially rebuffing a previous Solomon Islands Government alleged wilful dealing to a property covered under the terms of  Irrevocably Power of Attorney.

2) The historic ascension of the present Sogovare Government with her inclusive and dynamic economic and social reforms resulted in a high powered delegation from the present Sogovare Government to visit John Meint Smith here in Brisbane just recently in July 2015.

3) The meeting was to discussion strategies for the immediate redevelopment of Anuha Island into and hope of regain her standing as the Jewel of the crown of the Solomon Islands Tourism Industry.

4) The high powered Solomon Islands Government delegation originally listed to meet John Smith in Brisbane on the eve of Air Solomon   inaugural flight to Sydney in June ’15 included the Permanent Secretaries and Private Secretaries of both the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Tourism.

5) John was invited by the Solomon Island through this delegation to submit strategies that he believe would end this 28 year old saga, and subsequently in the meeting John provided copies of his submission to the Solomon Island delegation in their joist meeting in  Brisbane on July 2nd 2015.

6) A member of the Solomon Island delegation in in his attempt to appease John’s curiosity of non-action by the Solomon Islands Government  in the last 33 years, assured John Smith that he has a personal file the size of around 2 feet high kept in the Office of The Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands.

 

Prime Minister office refers the John Smith Strategic plan to redevelop Anuha to the Attorney General

1) After about 4 weeks after the July 2015 meeting in Brisbane between John M Smith and the high powered delegation from the Government of the Solomon Islands; John was assured his submission to the Government of the Solomon Islands has been referred by the Prime Minister’s office to the Attorney General of the Government of the Solomon Islands.  

 

John Smith exonerated by the Solomon Islands Court

1) On July 31st 2008 the Court revoked a warrant issued in June 1988 for my arrest   if I returned to Solomon Islands. This followed dubious claims that I had breached a court order not to set foot on Anuha Island.

2) I have since travel and lived in Solomon Island on many occasion and since held a work visa as an Executive of a Resort.

3) I have been consultant in numerous other venture in the Solomon Island from recording studio to Fishing ventures, Mineral exploration and export licence to name a few all for the befit of Solomon Islanders.

 

Who will be the redeemed?

1) The benefit of the people of the Central Province it is John earnest desire that this 33 years old saga be resolved amicably by bipartisan political will jointly by the Government of the Solomon Island and the Leader of Opposition office.

2) This matter, to the benefit of the innocent people of the central province and the people of the Solomon Islands, should no longer be further dragged around the quagmire of political mudslinging by some domestic and International politician and sticky beak diplomats.