CUSTOMARY LAND RECORDING BILL IN PRIORITY LIST

The Customary Land Recording (Amendment) Bill is amongst the Government’s priority Bills to be tabled in parliament this year.

The Governor General Sir David Vunagi announced this in his Speech from the Throne when opening the National Parliament meeting today.

Sir David informed Parliament that work on land reform in the country will continue and the Government is prioritizing the Customary Land Recording (Amendment) Bill. The bill intends to achieve preservation of customary land information and protection of indigenous people’s ownership over their traditional land once passed into law.

Besides the CLR Bill, the government will also establish and standardize land rates and regulate government land rental as well as reviewing land leases and rental in Honiara and the provinces. The review of rates for land rentals is amongst the priority activities of the government.

In addition, the Government also prioritizes the reform of the Lands and Titles Act and the implementation of the Strata Title Act while at the same time planning for the first phase of the Greater Honiara Urban Development Strategy and Action Plan is in progress.

Sir David also informed Parliament that the government would also prioritise and promote housing projects focusing on the Mamara/Tasivarongo Housing Estate and the Solomon Islands Housing Ltd and Solomon Islands National Provident Fund through a Public Private Partnership arrangement.

ENDS///