The Government and the resources owners of Bina/ Talifilu land had signed a historic communique on Friday last week.
The signing of the Bina/ Talifu Honiara Communique was a result of three months of solid dialogue, discussions and consultations which started on the 28th of July at the project site in Bina.
From that first consultation meeting the Bina Tuna Processing Plant Project Sub Committee that was established by Cabinet earlier this year made a strategic recommendation to deal with each of the parties individually.
The strategy was useful and resulted in follow up meetings with the primary, secondary and other interesting parties.
The Chairperson of the Bina/ Talifilu Sub Committee and Under Secretary (Technical) of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Mr. Ferral Lasi in his remarks before signing of the communique thanked the resource owners for their willingness to work with the Government.
“This marked an important milestone to this Project and it is a real opportunity for the people of Bina/Talifu and also Malaita Province to see this important National Project kick off.” Says the Chairperson of the Sub Committee.
He further says, “Let me remind you again the government is ready now than ever before to implement this project”.
According to the Policy Secretary of the Government’s Policy, Implementation Unit (PIMEU)’s Productive Sector Mr. Celsus Talifilu says,
“The Communique continues to stress that the Committee and the representatives of the groups will continue to work closely together in the spirit of inclusiveness.”
“In addition the communique contained ten commitment statements that formed the basis of working together by the government and the resource owners going forward.” Talifilu says.
In addition to the ten commitment statements, the Communique further provided the five strategic steps that the Committee and the resources owners will take to ensure that the Title of the Land is properly settled by December in a manner that is transparent and in accordance with the relevant laws and customary practice of the locality.
“The resource owners are confident that the 5 strategic steps have provided them a very clear pathway for them to settle the issues that are for so long been the backbone of failure for this project.” Says Talifilu.
The resource owners also thanked the DCC Government and especially the Cabinet Sub Committee for their untiring commitment in ensuring the groups are assisted with the most appropriate advice.
The resource owners and the Government through the Cabinet Sub Committee have made a commitment that by December 2017 the names of the trustees will be inscribe to the Titles sheet.
This will be the ultimate milestone for this project for this year 2017.
– Government Communications Unit