THE Member of Parliament for Small Malaita has warned that if nothing is done to deal with land reform in the country, most of the land may soon end up in the hands of foreigners.
Rick Hou was speaking in Parliament early this week when contributing to the debate on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Report.
He highlighted that the country’s land legislation is a foreign concept brought about by the ‘colonial’ government.
Because of that, MP Hou highlighted that the need to reform the country’s land legislation is vital given land is owned by tribal people.
He said the current land legislation has led to land ownership-related problems.
“Because of that, some important premium land in Honiara, Western, Malaita and elsewhere end up in the hands of the foreigners. These are people who do not belong to any tribe. It’s a big problem.
“As a result, resources owners, landowners and tribal groups have now been on periphery of the economic systems and become spectators to what is going on. And we are seeing this now.
“I don’t want to say this but by the way we are heading, before we realise it, we become beggars in our own country, beggars in our province and own land,” he told Parliament.
MP Hou reiterated what the Prime Minister highlighted and that was many events that occurred before 1998 should have provided signs and warnings to successive governments leading up to the ethnic crisis.
During the time of British ‘colonial days’ the writings have been on the wall.
MP Hou said ‘colonising’ Solomon Islands was like stitching different pieces of the clothes together.
“Someone says, that Solomon Islands is a country made of many nations.
“It’s probably true because of our different cultures. For instance, the culture in one part of the island can be quite different to the other part, especially with how they deal with land, other tribal and community issues, the cultural practises, tribal ritual and tribal rules.”
By MOFFAT MAMU