Hampden Estates Ltd failed in its attempt yesterday to get an order from the Supreme Court to bar the Government from selling the sugar factory and some of the lands.
Supreme Court Judge Lennox Campbell, after hearing legal arguments in chambers this week, handed down his ruling yesterday.
Hampden's lawyer, Crafton Miller, applied to the judge for a stay of the order, but the application was refused. Miller told The Gleaner yesterday that there was the likelihood of an appeal against the judge's ruling.
Yesterday's ruling means that the government-owned Trelawny Sugar Company can proceed with the sale of Hampden Estates Ltd to Everglade Farms.
temporary injunction
Hampden had taken the Government to court over the proposed sale of the company and was granted a temporary injunction.
The company wanted the injunction to remain in effect until the three suits it had filed in the matter had been heard and determined in court.
Deputy Solicitor General Lackston had opposed the application for any further injunction.
The Government insisted last month that Hampden Estates Limited - a core part of the Trelawny Sugar Company being divested by the State - would not affect a sale agreement it had reached with local enterprise Everglade Farms. It was announced last month that the Trelawny Sugar Company would be sold to Everglades for a value of US$1.5 million (J$133.02 million).
The more than 7,000-acre Hampden Estates forms the essential part of the Trelawny Sugar Company's assets.
owned by his family
Hampden Estates was owned and operated by David Farquharson and his family.
The business went into receivership in 1999 for allegedly owing National Commercial Bank $28 million and US$82 million under the powers of two debentures.
Hampden was subsequently taken over by the government-owned Financial Sector Adjustment Company (FINSAC).
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.
barbara.gayle@gleanerjm.com