BY MORRIS NAFU
Landowner and Permit Holder, Apolonia Gito requests that the ownership of resources be vested upon resource owners and not the Government as side partners.
Gito made the statement before the Bills and Legislative Committee (BLC) at the National Parliament under Alluvial Miners Hearing yesterday.
Gito emphasised on “Part 1, Section 7 Ownership of Mineral subsection 1” of the draft Mineral Resource Bill 2025.
This subsection as quoted is “Ownership of a Mineral located in or on Solomon Island lands or Solomon Islands waters is vested on the people and the Government of Solomon Islands regardless.”
Gito calls on the rights to be vested in the hands of the people of the land and let the Government to act in support.
“Rights of ownership should not be equally shared and let all the rights to be vested upon the resource owning people,” she said.
She then further requests the Government to reconsider the Monarch rule, urging the Government to place the rights to the land owners.
Gito also mentioned Subsection 2 of the draft bill which reads as “In dealing with matters concerning minerals in Solomon Islands, the Government acts on behalf of the people of Solomon Islands and must act in the best interests if the people of Solomon Islands.”
In this regard, she said this where the government should be responsible and not extend its hands.
Meanwhile the Chairman of the BLC and Member of Parliament for West Are’are Constituency, John Maneniaru appreciates the concerns of all the land and resource owners present in the hearing and requests written submission to be submitted before Committee for further elaboration on the bill before tabling it on the floor of Parliament.
In a released Parliament statement, the Committee hopes to collect these submissions as evidences of its inquiry into the Bill and report to Parliament. The closing date for submissions is 4:30pm on Sunday 7th September 2025.
Inquiry into the Bill will commence on Monday 8th September 2025.
The Mineral Resources Bill 2025 is regarded as a landmark piece of legislation that aims to modernise the country’s regulatory framework for mineral resources.
It seeks to establish a clear and accountable system for authorising and regulating exploration, extraction, and processing of minerals.
Key objectives of the Bill include:
-Balancing development and protection by supporting mineral exploration and extraction while safeguarding the natural, social, and cultural environment of communities.
-Respecting customary rights, including ownership, use, and occupation of land, water, and sea in line with traditional practices.
-Promoting environmental responsibility and sound land management in mining operations.
-Clarifying rights and obligations of landowners, communities, and industry stakeholders to encourage fair, harmonious, and mutually beneficial relationships.
-Securing economic benefits by ensuring fair financial returns that maximise value for present and future generations of Solomon Islanders.
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