By Loretta B Manele
For the information of all members and the public, the sale of Dodo creek land followed proper procedures in the land title act.
Polycarp Paea, minister for the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey made the above statement at the Sine Die Motion in parliament on Thursday 19th.
He explained that regarding Dodo creek, the land board had gone through proper land processes.
Paea said before it went to the tender process, the land board made two formal requests to the Ministry of Agriculture (MAL) and to another ministry.
He expressed that at the time, the ministry of agriculture was not interested in the land because one, it had graves in it and secondly, there were squatters in that area.
Paea mentioned that the other ministry was also not interested in the land so the land board decided to give the land to a company called “Solomon Islands agriculture livestock development” as it was the highest bidder.
“The company subsequently paid 3 million premium and an annual rental of 300,000 for 50 years term.
If you do the math, that actual cost of the land is 15 million”
Paea said the ministry of agriculture is currently developing land at Tenaru as its new research centre with assistance from World Bank.
