CHIEFS of Central Guadalcanal are threatening to close down national development projects on their land if Parliament passes the Constituency Boundary Commission (CBC) report.
The threat was issued through a petition given to their Member of Parliament, Peter Shanel who tabled it in the chamber yesterday.
It started with a peaceful demonstration outside Parliament where the chiefs presented a ‘çhipu’ or traditional gifts in the presence of Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua and his ministers, backbenchers and opposition members.
One of the chiefs, George Vari told the Solomon Star the ceremony is to show their disagreement over the CBC’s report.
He said their chiefs or even Guadalcanal provincial’s government were never consulted over the demarcation of their area.
Mr Vari said the Commission divided Central Guadalcanal into two with North Guadalcanal as a new constituency.
“We are not happy because the split will see us lose some of our important areas to North Guadalcanal, “he said.
“This is not right we are not fully consulted over this split.”
Therefore, Mr Vari said if Parliament passes the report, it will have some bearing on some national projects on Central Guadalcanal like Goldridge, Tina Hydro project, expansion of Honiara International Airport, proposed Tuna Loin factory and other small proposed mining operations.
Minister of Home Affairs, Peter Tom thanked the Central Guadalcanal’s chiefs for expressing their democratic rights.
He said the burden now rests on MPs’shoulders to pass or reject the report.
Debate to allow Parliament resolves itself into the committee of whole house to consider the CBC report continues today.
The CBC report recommends Parliament to consider the creation of 17 new constituencies.
This was inline with the review of boundary every 10 years as stipulated under the constitution.
The Commission carried out the review based on a resolution passed by Parliament on 18th March 2009.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
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