GOVERNMENT TO HOST LAND SUMMIT IN HONIARA
An official photo from the Lands Summit. Photo credit: Rosalie Nongebatu.
The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey together with the Prime Minister’s Office and the Australian National University will be holding a two-days Lands Summit in Honiara, starting Wednesday this week.
Confirming the event to SIBC News in an interview today, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands, Stanley Wale says this Lands Summit will be very important for Solomon Islands.
“After these many years it seems we don’t really find a pathway for land reform, so this summit is very important in that it brings together experiences from other Melanesian countries like Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Fiji to share what path they are taking until now. Their stories will help us to also create a pathway forward for our land reform program where the DCCG is prioritizing in its policy, so it’s a very important land summit.”
Meanwhile, a representative from the Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet, Selwyn Kole confirmed a number of participants are already in Honiara.
“So far we already have participants arriving in town, we have some premiers already booked into their accommodation venues. We are waiting for some more to arrive probably tomorrow morning or afternoon, depending on their flights. Some have traveled by boat and are already in Honiara for the summit.”
SIBC News understands the Lands Summit will include speakers from Neighboring Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and Fiji, who will share their experiences on land reforms in their countries.