Members of Haubata Hanigoana, a sub-tribe of Huabata Tribe in Guadalcanal Province has described claims by Simbo Tribe as the customary ownership of land within and around Honiara City including Papaho as misleading.
The tribe has refuted recent reports where Simbo tribe reaffirms customary landownership through traditional ceremonies as highlighted by their spokesperson Lawrence Justine and the so called Tadai House of Chiefs.
“Members of Haubata Hanigoana who are the true land beneficiaries wishes to instruct Justine and the so called Tadai House of Chefs who attended the recent ceremony at Papaho as follows;
“The claim by Simbo tribe that members of Haubata Hanigoana Sub-tribe of Haubata Tribe have obtained titles to the Papaho Land by way of fraud or mistake is misleading because of the Statutory declaration Signed by Savino Laugana on 2011 was dismissed in the High Court in the Civil Case [CC] 78 of 2017.
“In other words, the transaction of land from Savino Laugana and Thomas Botu (Trustees representing Haubata tribe), to the current land beneficiaries of Haubata tribe was legal and according to Land and Titles Act.
“You are well aware of the statutory declaration made by Savino Laugana and Thomas Botu on the 12th July 1993 was made according to the requirement of the Land and Titles Act.
“It would be very difficult to prove the statutory declaration’s wrong or was an error in law.”
The Papaho Land is now registered to Haubata, the tribe said in a statement.
The statement from Haubata Hanigoana added; “till such a time that its status is reverted to Customary Land, the So Called Tadai House of Chiefs and the Spokes person Mr Lawrence Justine are acting ultra vires to deal with the issues of ownership the Papaho land.”
Members of the Simbo tribe have been further warned to refrain from carrying out any land dealings at Papaho.
“You are now being warned not to deal with the Papaho Land which are registered in the names of the true members of the Haubata tribe who are entitle as beneficiaries under the statutory declaration and to stop misleading the public with such unlawful Ceremonies.
“Failing to adhere to this warning will leave us with no choice but to instigate a legal proceedings against you as soon as appropriate,” the statement said.
The statement added the Local Court Amendment Act 1985 did not allow chiefs to hear a dispute if a decision has already been made by the Local Court, Customary Land appeal Court or the High Court.
Therefore, Since the High Court has already dismissed the Sibo or Sibo Kakau tribes claim of ownership over the Papaho Land (part of Tasahe Registered Land) on the Civil Case 78 of 2017, they (chiefs) cannot review the decision of a local Court, customary Land appeal Court, High Court or any Court records, or affect the land register in any way.
“It would be a good idea for Chiefs, before they hear a dispute or attend to any customary Ceremonies to enquire of the Local Court Clerk, Registrar of the High Court and lands registry office if any Court decisions, or registration have been done concerning the land and parties in question.
“The summary resolution of Papaho issue regarding Tribal Connection of Sibo or Sibo Kakau tribe by Tadai House of chiefs dated 28th July 2024 further confirmed that the Papaho land which forms part of the Tasahe registered land was under the ownership Jurisdiction of the Haubata tribe.”
The statement further added that the Bisivotu general land Census on the 2016 which presided by chiefs from SAVULEI, SAHALE and TADAI (wards) clearly stated that the presiding panel of chiefs cannot conduct any finding, or hearing within any customary land that have already been registered and that the Tasahe registered land was one of them.
The tribal chief representing the Haubata Hanigoana sub-Tribe of Haubata Tribe to the Tadai House of chiefs, Mr Gilbert Tarai did confirmed that he had no knowledge over the traditional ceremony held at Papaho on 24th February 2026 and further said that the High Court Civil Case 511 of 2025 agreed and ordered that the House of Chiefs (Tadai) shall cease forthwith to exercise the powers of the House of Chiefs (Tadai) until a new executive committee of of Tadai House of Chiefs is elected.
Mr Gilbert said that any declaration, decision or findings made by the chiefs during the Papaho ceremony is not right and against the law as it was done in absence of the Tadai House of chiefs executives.
Background Story
At the recent ceremony in March the Simbo Tribe spokesperson Lawrence Justine said the ceremonies were organised to publicly declare and preserve the tribe’s historical connection to the land while also addressing concerns about the transfer of tribal land ownership.
Mr. Justine explained that the first major declaration took place on 16 July 2011 at Papaho Kaibia Heights.
The ceremony was organised by the Simbo Tribe and attended by Tandai tribal chiefs, community members, representatives from the Ministry of Lands, police officers, and witnesses from other Guadalcanal tribes, including Kakau and Haubata.
During the gathering, the Simbo Tribe formally requested Paramount Chief Mr. Savino Laughana and his tribe to return the land title and ownership to the Simbo Tribe.
Mr. Justine said Chief Savino later acknowledged that the land had been signed over by mistake and declared the Simbo Tribe as the rightful traditional owners.
According to Tandai tribal leaders, the ceremony provided an important opportunity to address what they described as a suspicious transfer of tribal-registered land to an individual.
The purpose of the gathering was to resolve the matter through customary processes and reaffirm the tribe’s ownership of six land parcels.
The parcels include; Parcel No: 191-077-12, Parcel No: 191-077-18, Parcel No: 191-078-7, Parcel No: 191-077-13, Parcel No: 191-077-16, and Parcel No: 191-077-15.
Mr. Justine said the declaration was not a one-time event. Over the years, the Simbo Tribe has continued to organise customary ceremonies to strengthen and document its claim.
In 2016, another significant ceremony was held at Bisivotu.
Chiefs and representatives from different Guadalcanal tribes attended the event as witnesses.
During the ceremony, Simbo tribal chief Basileo Luza presented customary knowledge relating to land ownership.
He explained the tribe’s traditional connection to the land and described the traditional stepping of land boundaries, a customary practice used to identify and confirm ownership.
Tribal leaders said the presentation outlined the traditional markers and boundaries that identify land belonging to the Simbo Tribe. They also noted that no disputes were raised by the other tribes that attended the ceremony.
Further declarations were held in recent years to reaffirm the tribe’s position.
Another ceremony took place on 16 March 2024 at Bisivotu, where tribal leaders and witnesses again confirmed the tribe’s customary ownership.
A third declaration followed on 24 July 2024 at Lela Beach. During this gathering, the Tandai House of Chiefs summoned both parties to attend a customary hearing based on a High Court order.
However, only the Simbo Tribe attended, while the other party did not appear.
As a result, the Tandai House of Chiefs proceeded with the process without dispute.
According to Guadalcanal customs, paramount chiefs hold the authority to make decisions regarding land ownership.
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