THE Guadalcanal Provincial Government calls on the National Government to halt the construction of the new cemetery proposed site, which is believed to be somewhere at Gilbert Camp within the provincial boundary in the Tandai Ward, until it has fully consulted with the Guadalcanal Provincial Executive and relevant provincial authorities.
The Deputy Premier for Guadalcanal Province, Hon. Lazarus Rina, refutes the statement made by the Prime Minister as reported by SBM online that Guadalcanal Province is part of the Committee that is currently looking at that matter.
In a statement released on behalf of the Guadalcanal Provincial Executive, Hon. Rina states, “the Guadalcanal Provincial Government opposes the national government’s proposal to build the new cemetery because it was never consulted consulted although the area identified for the new cemetery falls within the jurisdiction of the Guadalcanal Provincial Planning and Development Board”.
He says according to the Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 2017, “in order for any development to take place within a provincial government’s jurisdiction, it must first be approved according to the Provincial Plan as provided for under Section 9(5A) and ought to have regard to the Local Planning Scheme (LPS) approved under Section 11 of the said Act.”
Hon. Rina says, “This proposed cemetery was never subjected to these processes and requirements.”
Hon. Rina continues that Guadalcanal Provincial Government respects the Prime Minister’s responsibilities under Part 2 of the Emergency Powers (Covid-19) (No. 2) Regulations 2021, especially the “Public Interest” under Regulations (6) or the “Covid-19 related purpose”, but in the long run it should consider the unintended consequences in the future as well.
A “COVID-19 related purpose” as defined under these Regulations “includes a purpose for or related to maintaining Public Health, Safety, Order and Security during the Emergency Period”.
However, Hon. Rina asks whether “The burial site and its location will maintain Public Health, Safety, Order and Security during such a period?”
He adds that, “while the Guadalcanal Provincial Government understands that our country is going through a public health crisis and there is a need for a new cemetery to accommodate the increasing death toll, we must not use this as an excuse to disregard due processes as stipulated under our laws.”
Hon. Rina says that even if the proposed site is on alienated land with the perpetual estate (PE) title held by the Commissioner of Lands, “it is within Guadalcanal Province and any development must be carried out in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 2017 and in consultation with and approved by the relevant Guadalcanal Provincial authorities.”
The Deputy Premier also points to environmental concerns, especially to the Ecosystem-Based Adaptation assessment published by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in 2017, through the Pacific Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change (PEBACC), which identified that those areas with some freshwater (groundwater, urban springs, rivers and streams) sources.
Hon. Rina says, “These water sources or catchments are indeed crucial for both the surrounding communities and as well as Honiara City, thus building a burial site above is not a wise decision and could result in further environmental and water crises sooner rather than later.”
Hon. Rina also use the opportunity to highlight the National Government’s failure to help build a Guadalcanal Provincial Hospital, which the provincial government had requested in 2020 as part of its COVID-19 preparedness plan.
He says, “In 2020, we sent a COVID-19 Preparedness submission to the Government Oversight Committee (GOC) to help us with a new provincial hospital and an isolation center. The national government never responded to, let alone acknowledge receiving our request. We anticipated this public health crisis that was why we submitted our COVID-19 Preparedness plan, which would have provided for a decentralized response to the health crisis.”
He says given that Guadalcanal Province was likely to be at the frontline of the COVID-19 infections, it made sense for the National Government help with the preparedness.
“Guadalcanal Province has given and continues to give a lot to our country. The least we ask in return is that the processes provided for by our laws be followed, the interests of Guadalcanal people be respected and protected, and that the National Government helps us address our needs. But instead, we have been ignored,” says Hon. Rina.
GP Media Release
(Pic: Hon. Lazarus Rina and Prime Minister Sogavare at Marau Wharf (Birao Ward) during the Guadalcanal Province 37th 2nd Appointed Day in August, 2021).
