A RESOURCE Owner advocator from East Malaita calls on the Malaita Provincial Government and the National Government to think seriously about recognising the country’s customary land system.
Rocky Tisah points out that the problem lies on the fact that the Government does not recognise traditional leaders and their traditional systems of landownership.
And this, he says, tends to lead to other related issues which results in people viewing land issues as a hindrance to development.
He also reminds everyone that each society in the Solomon Islands has its own customary land ownership system.
And because of the non-recognition by the government for these traditional constitutions, he says people are now being driven to look outside of the country for advice on land ownership systems.
“The point I want to stress here is concerning the Malaita Provincial delegation which left in a touring trip to Fiji to “look and learn” at the Native Land Trust Board, Native Land Commission and Land Registration office in Fiji.
“I support and also accept the purpose initiated in which the trip was made and those who were behind facilitating this look and learn mission.
Mr Tisah doubts that whatever concepts the delegation may learn from their trip may not be compatible with the existing Malaitan system of landownership.
“I don’t think it could work successfully, because it’s foreign to our land or maybe it can but it may take time,” he said.
He also explains that the trip has implied that Malaita, or the country, lacks an established land ownership system.
Furthermore, he ways that it may also mean that even if we had an existing system, we may not have any hope or confidence in it.
“For sure this is how people will look at us. And for foreign investors, with such actions it will give them fear to invest in a land that even the people themselves but they don’t have confidence over their lands.
“The fact is that we have our own land system, if only the National Government to recognise it and develop laws with it according to its traditional characters, I think there will be no land issue in the country.
“In doing that I suggest customary land, local land recording and local court must be strengthened and recognised,” he said.
Mr Tisah added that the role played by the traditional leaders or chiefs must also be recognised as they are the superiors regarding customs and cultures that deal with customary lands.
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