DISPUTE OVER ownership on Vanikoro Island in Temotu province remains high between Tikopian settlers and the indigenous people of the Island.
An elder from Vanikoro reports to this paper last week that Galego Logging Company have been given right to log the whole the island, and by this month will move in to Paiu land where the disputing party settled.
He revealed that the indigenous people are backing the company to move into one of the most disputed area on the island.
He said this will probably ignite more disagreement amongst the conflicting groups and the Malaysian Logging company.
He said settlers claimed they are rightful owners of Paiu land on west Vanikoro.
Meanwhile, Chief Pae Maru Marama in a statement issued to this paper on behalf of the Tikopian descendants, claim ownership of the loa, lavaka,veterei,Niupuka, rangieva,suape and Paiu lands.
He claimed that the Banai, Asuma and Amba speaking people are destroying what he described as their virgin land by allowing logging activities into the island.
“Therefore, the only people who should do logging on Vanikoro Island are the Ngamotu Fonofono people and those from Vano, no one else. But criminals destroy our virgin land, stealing our logs from 2007 to 2008 and 2014 to 2016,” a statement from Marama said.
“They used our language name for the island of Vanikoro for the Vanikoro Lumber LTD,” he added.
He said that the legality of the Maru people as co-owners of the Island was endorsed by Mcleod of France and local leaders Meone and Fusi in 1884.
In relation, among previous incidences, the Member for parliament for Vatud constituency recently bailed out a detained group of men who are said to have been involved in land dispute which resulted in logging machines being set on fire.
However, the Vanikoro Elder, who arrived in Honiara last week said that logging activities are moving swiftly on the Island in spite of of the dispute.
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