Barely three months since his confirmation as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, His Honor Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay is at the center of a major controversy involving some Chinese nationals and a Liberian businesswoman, new owners of the Colony Hotel (formerly Palm Spring Hotel).
According to documents accessed by the Hot Pepper, the lease agreement of the property that hosted the former Palm Spring Hotel expired in May 2024, and was subsequently acquired by the new Liberian owners (Colony Incorporated) in September 2024 from the Morgan family.
But since the acquisition of the property, the Colony Hotel has suffered several legal battles of closures over wrongful attachment to the former Palm Spring, whereas the new owners acquired the property from the owners of the Interstate estate of the Late Cllr. Lawrence Morgan and not Palm Spring.
It can be recalled that in 2024 Colony Hotel was ordered closed by the Debt Court over acquisition of debt owed by its previous leasers, Palm Spring Hotel, to which Colony Hotel had no dealings, resulting into subsequent shutdown for several months, and later ordered reopen after Judge James E. Jones, Resident Judge of the Debt Court, ruled that Colony Hotel’s bill of information filed to detach itself from the judgment/debtor was sound in all considerations, and was therefore granted.
Judge Jones’ ruling ordered the court and sheriff of the Debt Court to unseal the Colony Hotel if previously sealed, and to cease and desist from any further or future contact with Colony Hotel regarding the enforcement of the judgment against Najib Kamand/Palm Spring.
The court also ruled that the bill of information filed by Colony Hotel, which states that the action of debt by the plaintiff, Ding Shu June (Chinese Nancy), against defendant Najib Kamand, with a judgment of US$1,355,886 (according to the bill of cost), was properly executed and enforced, as certain business premises within the Palm Spring resort with reported connection to the judgment against Kamand were sealed.
However, the Colony Hotel filed a separate bill of information to inform the court that it is a separate and distinct business entity without any link to the judgment data, and should not be borrowed or added when the court is enforcing its judgment against Najib Kamand. The court further acknowledged that the Bill of Information of Colony Hotel was received and granted because the respondent did not contradict the fact that it is a separate and distinct business interest of the judgment that Najib Kamand basically holds.
The court reported in its minutes that all the respondent had done was to challenge the legal property of the Bill of Information, in order to stop the court from selling the informants business premises in an attempt to enforce judgment against Najib Kamand, as found in the revised ruling of the Supreme Court. The ruling states, “A bill of information will lie to prevent anyone whosoever from interfering with the judgment and or mandate of the Supreme Court, but Informant (Colony Hotel) has filed a bill of information to bring to the attention of the court that the Supreme Court’s mandate to enforce the judgment of the Chinese Nationals against defendant Najib Kamand is wrongfully being enforced against it, which is a separate and distinct entity with no connection to the judgment against Najib Kamand.”
The Debt Court confirmed the inspection of the formal lease agreement and article of incorporation relevant to the resolution of the issue raised by the Colony Hotel’s Bill of information, to ascertain whether or not the judgment against Kamand was enforceable against Colony Hotel.
But while these developments are ongoing, it is reported that Chief Justice Gbeisay has suspended Judge Jones, Resident Judge of the Debt Court, and directed Judge James N. Kollie to preside over the case and effectuate the closure of Colony Hotel within 72 hours until the hotel pays US$150,000, or risks being shutdown down permanently.
This directive has sparked mixed reactions among Liberians, especially among businessmen and stakeholders who continue to call on Liberians in the diaspora to return home and contribute to the recovery process.
A communication from Atty. Edwina D. Vokun, Chief of Office Staff of Justice Gbeisay, directed Judge Joseph Kollie, Judge of the Labor Court, dated September 5, 2025, instructed the enforcement of the request by the plaintiff counsel in the action of debt case without delay.
Currently, President Joseph Boakai is scheduled to attend the Liberia Diaspora Conference in the United States geared toward fostering trade among Liberian diaspora members.
Speaking at a dinner in honor of Liberian diaspora members recently, President Joseph Boakai urged Liberians in the diaspora to contribute to the country’s growth through strategic economic investments.
Also, speaking at the Executive Mansion during a meeting with U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, President Boakai said Liberia offers fertile ground for initiatives that can drive national progress. He emphasized that diaspora participation is vital to diversifying the economy and creating opportunities for citizens. The President assured potential investors of his administration’s commitment to transparency, stability, and sustainable development.
What remains to be seen is whether or not Justice Gbeisay’s mandate to undo the ruling of the Debt Court in the wake of the bill of information will be carried out.
Up to Press time, there has been no response from Justice Gbeisay regarding the accusations and the acknowledgement of the communication by his chief of staff directing Judge Kollie to shut down Colony Hotel when a ruling of the Debt Court says otherwise. Investigation continues.