Pleas for Malaitans to support Wantoks from atolls

BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

Premier Peter Ramohia. Photo by Tomoko Kashiwazaki/UNDP

MALAITANS living on the mainland are being called onto support fellow Malaitans’ from the atolls.

Malaita Premier, Hon. Peter Ramohia made this call to his people to support the Polynesian people of Malaita living on Ontong Java and Sikaiana atolls as they currently experience the effects of climate change.

Premier Ramohia said, Malaitans living on Atoll Islands including Lord Howe (Ontong Java) and Sikaiana Islands are currently being affected by rising sea level and must be relocated to higher ground in the next 10 years.

“What we are as Malaitans doing about this”, Ramohia said.

“Our small island communities such as Fanalei and Walande are completely inundated with rising sea water”.

“Kwai and Ngongosila islands in East Malaita for instance also experiencing the same effects regarding high level sea rise due to the effects of the climate change”, Ramohia said.

He added that a resettlement policy must be pursued now for Malaita province as such issues will arise in the future.

“There is no better time to do that but it is the right time to do it especially to save the lives of our people”.

Premier Ramohia pleaded for all Malaitans and all land owning groups to consider this call.

Recently the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey has conducted a workshop for stakeholders to discuss a draft ‘resettlement policy’ for the Government.

Discussions surrounding the proposed draft ‘resettlement policy’ is still on-going.

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