BY LESLEY FOINAGWA
MALAITA Provincial Government’s Top official for the Ministry of Peace, Reconciliation and Elastics Affairs, Genesis Kofana is calling on traditional land owners in the West Kwaio region of the province to reconcile and register their land to allow development.
Speaking early this year at Busi’i community in West Kwaio, Malaita province to mark a reconciliation ceremony among the native people of the Towado tribe, Mr. Genesis Kofana said it is important for tribal landowners to first reconcile and then register their land so that it can be recognized by the government and later to allow interested investors to invest in Malaita province.
Mr. Kofana said to achieve reconciliation and registration of tribal land is the only way forward to pave way for tangible development in the West Kwaio region of Malaita province.
He pointed out that to avail any future development, reconciliation must happen among rival tribes so that they can come together to resolve their grievances in a common understanding.
“I appeal to chiefs in ward 28, West Kwaio, and Malaita province as a whole to help those interested landowners to register their land for development,” Kofana said.
He said it’s obvious to see Malaitians struggling to achieve development on their land.
“I challenge all landowners in Malaita to register their land so that we can allow development and investment in our land.
“The responsible governments are ready for any interested landowners if they wish to register their land at any time,” he said.
Mr. Kofana also confirmed the mission and vision of the Malaita provincial government which is to empower rural chiefs and elders in the province to deal with land issues to allow development to prevail.
He said that it is important to empower local chiefs and elders in our communities in Malaita as they are the ones responsible to settle and resolve sensitive issues in our communities.
He said that chiefs have an important mandate and role when it comes to resolving issues related to land.
“Nothing could happen if we work without chiefs. They are key people who can settle land disputes happening in the province.
“The Ministry is working hard with rural chiefs in Malaita province, especially to advise them on how to work closely with landowners.”
Sunday Isles understands that the Bina Harbour Project is a proposed Tuna factory that has faced several cross-sectoral challenges over the past years. Hence, a cross-sectorial approach with a strong notion of ‘working together with all relevant stakeholders to this project is now being undertaken.
