Government announced Tuesday that the Trelawny company would be sold to Everglades for a value of US$1.5 million ($133.02 million).

The over 7000-acre Hampden estate forms the essential part of the Trelawny company's assets.

Lawyers representing Hampden had successfully obtained an injunction from the Supreme Court barring the sale of the estate's assets last month. The injunction which ended on May 19, was extended until July 2.

Gov't was not worried

Agriculture Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, however, told The Gleaner yesterday that the Government was not worried by the injunction.

"We are confident of our case and, therefore, we will proceed until we overcome the issue and allow the judge to decide," he said.

The matter will be heard on July 2 and 3.

Lawyer for Hampden, Crafton Miller, said he was not sure the Government has breached the injunction by entering into a sale agreement with Everglades.

"I don't think the Government would really want to do that. We were not privy to the Government's negotiating machinery or the documents which they have signed. We have just confined ourselves to the legal side with which we are involved," he said.

Hampden Estates has been closed for several years now.

It was owned and operated by David Farquharson and his family. The business went into receivership in 1999 after it was taken over by the government-owned Financial Sector Adjustment Company (FINSAC).

Estate closed

In 2000, the Government closed the estate, which resulted in more than 200 job losses.

Hampden Estates and the Farquharsons have filed suits in the Supreme Court regarding the take-over of the estate by FINSAC.

Those suits are still pending.