BY SAMIE WAIKORI
The Minister for Lands, Housing and Survey (MLHS), Jamie Vokia says recognising customary land remains a top priority of the national government.
He made the statement in response to a question raised by MP for East Malaita constituency, Manasseh Maelanga, in parliament yesterday on whether the recognition of customary land is being treated as a priority on government’s development agenda.
Vokia said the recognition of customary land and landholding group is a priority of GNUT and previous governments.
He added that section 8 of the constitution, which is the highest law of the country, protects customary land recording groups, that no person shall be deprived of their property.
“Majority, if not all, development of this nation resides on customary land, and as such, good governance requires customary land recording groups or land owners to be firstly consulted.
“This is how customary land and customary land groups are on the priority list on our development agenda,” Vokia said.
The Minister said on the policy level there has been a blueprint for development on the National Development Strategy 2016-2035.
He added that the 20-year plan frames national visions, outcome and sector priorities for economic development, security, peace and environmental protection.
“This NDS 2016-2035 is a living document that has been passed through successive governments up to date and will continue into the future.
“This living document recognizes the importance of the role that customary land and customary land holding groups have on development.
“And without customary land holding groups’ consent and approval, there will be no development on customary land,” Vokia said.
In light of that, he said the Lands ministry is working to ensure land holding groups get the utmost benefit from developments on customary lands.
Vokia reiterated that customary land and customary land holding groups are a priority for the development agenda of this government.
He also mentioned that the Customary Lands Recording Act, Cap 132, was passed in 1994 and came into effect in 1995 by a gazette notice, but was never implemented until 2017 by the DCCG government.
And this was when the government decided to fully implement the recording as a fundamental policy then.
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