Falklands : Settlement Near for Gordon Forbes Case
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 28.10.2005 (Article Archived on 11.11.2005)

The Falklands Chief Executive has announced that the Gordon Forbes case will be settled soon.

FALKLAND ISLANDS GOVERNMENT

PRESS RELEASE

Settlement with Gordon Forbes Construction

The Chief Executive, Chris Simpkins has confirmed that an end is in sight in the long running disputes with Gordon Forbes Construction (Falklands) Limited. 

The company had claimed additional payments for work undertaken under two contracts which FIG had denied were due.  The claims resulted in Arbitration proceedings and appeals to the Supreme Court of the Falklands.  Some claims are still to be heard.

The Chief Executive and Principal Crown Counsel, Melanie Chilton recently met with Gordon Forbes and his legal representatives in an effort to achieve a negotiated settlement of all outstanding and potential claims against FIG.  ExCo today endorsed an Agreement which had been negotiated and signed by the Chief Executive in London on 12^th October which brings all matters to a mutually acceptable conclusion.

The financial arrangements will need to be considered by the Standing Finance Committee when it meets on 25^th November following which the financial terms of the settlement will be published.

Chris Simpkins commented:

“Assuming final approval is given by the Standing Finance Committee, the Agreement brings this long running dispute, which has cost a great deal of time and money to defend, to a satisfactory conclusion.  Detailed negotiations were held over many hours and I’m pleased to say that we eventually found common ground and achieved a settlement which represents good value for money for FIG given the stage reached in proceedings.  The amount to be paid in settlement is substantially less than the amounts claimed even after taking account of FIG’s legal fees.  However, lessons need to be learnt from this.  The Principal Crown Counsel and I will be producing a report for ExCo which will identify how a similar situation might be avoided in the future.”

Chris Simpkins

Chief Executive

28^th October 2005  

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