MAELANGA CALLS FOR SENSITIVITY ON GUADALCANAL LAND ISSUE

The Deputy and Acting Prime Minister, Manasseh Maelanga, has called on people to exercise sensitivity and fairness when commenting on land issues on Guadalcanal. (Pic: Andrew Fanasia Jr.

Andrew Fanasia Jr.

The Deputy and Acting Prime Minister, Manasseh Maelanga, has called on people to exercise sensitivity and fairness when commenting on land issues on Guadalcanal.

The Acting Prime Minister Mr. Maelanga made the call in a press statement following comments recently made by certain individuals in the media which Mr. Maelanga has decribed as having the potential to trigger resentment by Guadalcanal people.

Last week, a local newspaper carried comments from individuals in relation to a legal land battle between former Guadalcanal MP Nollen Leni and Levers Solomons Limited (LSL) which has angered some Guadalcanal people.

Mr. Maelanga said that while the court rulings have been in favour of the company, he strongly urged the company and its owners to be mindful of public comments they have made against Mr. Leni and more generally, the people of Guadalcanal.

The Acting Prime Minister Mr. Maelanga said that land dealings on Guadalcanal was one of the core issues that had triggered resentments amongst Guadalcanal people and which subsequently led to the outbreak of the ethnic tensions that gripped Solomon Islands nine years ago.

“As a national leader, I wish to encourage individuals to be mindful of public comments, particular on land issues on Guadalcanal,” Acting Prime Minister Maelanga said.

“Anti Guadalcanal comments has the potential to stir trouble which is not in the best interest of this nation,” he said.

He added that the government is putting in a lot of effort in trying to sort out land disputes on Guadalcanal, and it is crucial that insensitive and unfair comments which some individuals make in the media are not allowed to disrupt the process.

Mr. Maelanga also stressed that it is important that while people must respect the judiciary, they must at the same time, honor the customs of the people of Guadalcanal, particularly at a time when the government is trying to redirect the way forward for Solomon Islands.

During the early stage of the legal battle between former Guadalcanal MP Nollen Leni and Leavers Solomon Limited, Guadalcanal Premier Mr. Steven Panga said that while the law is superior, we must respect the feelings of the people of Guadalcanal when it comes to issues related to land.

Meanwhile, attempts to get Mr. Panga to comment on these new developments on issue was unsuccessful.