BY LORETTA B. MANELE
As we chart the future of this nation, let us remind this house that we must not forget the traditional landowners of this country.
The statement was made by Member of Parliament for Northwest Guadalcanal Francis Sade in parliament recently.
He said acknowledging the traditional land owners of the land the capital sits on is important because it will foster cultural respect, reconciliation and awareness.
Sade voiced that more than 80 percent of land in the country is customary land hence if we want development, we will need land that is customary owned to do that.
Speaking of traditional landowners, he said people at Tandai area are still crying because government doesn’t recognise their struggle after they’ve given up their land for the development of the economic hub of this country.
“If you take a walk from the boundary of Honiara and Guadalcanal, the people who gave their land for the development of this city don’t even have a road”
Sade mentioned that people are complaining and don’t want to give up their land because government doesn’t recognise them.
He added that even traditional landowners living at Mataniko area don’t have water supply despite the existence of a SIWA pipeline there.
Sade reiterated that government must acknowledge them and put them at the forefront of development agendas and engage them in meaningful participation in development.
