BY SAMIE WAIKORI
Premier of Makira Ulawa Province, Stanley Siapu, reaffirms that Okea land at Foxwood in Guadalcanal Province is the legal property of Makira Ulawa Province and urges individuals claiming authority over it to respect the provincial government’s ownership.
In a statement this week, Premier Siapu said the registered title of Okea land rests with the Premier of Makira Ulawa Province and dismissed recent claims of ownership by individuals purporting to exercise authority through alleged Power of Attorney or past roles with the now-defunct Makira Belle Company.
In an interview with this paper, Premier Siapu reaffirmed that the title of Okea land is with the Premier of Makira Ulawa province.
“The title of Okea land is with the premier and I want to call on anyone who may claim attorney over the land they are not rightful owner of the land.
“These assertions are legally unfounded, misleading, and carry no force or effect against the current registered title,” he said.
Premier Siapu stressed that the Provincial Executive of Makira Ulawa Province is the sole and legitimate authority over the land, and that any competing claims are null and void.
“For the record, the Provincial Executive of Makira Ulawa Province, represented by the Premier, is the sole and legitimate authority vested with legal title and rights over Okea land. Any competing claims are null, void, and incapable of extinguishing the Provincial Government’s ownership or management rights.” he said.
He also clarified that the Guadalcanal Provincial Government has no claim or interest in the land and has formally acknowledged Makira Ulawa’s exclusive authority over Okea land.
“In fact, Guadalcanal Province has expressly acknowledged that the authority and development rights over Okea land rest exclusively with the Makira Ulawa Provincial Government,” he said.
The premier warns that false or misleading representations may amount to fraud and said the provincial government will not hesitate to take legal action if necessary.
He calls on individuals to raise genuine grievances through proper legal and administrative channels instead of spreading rumours or misinformation.
Siapu said Okea land is a strategic provincial asset which will be developed for the collective benefit of the people of Makira Ulawa Province.
He added that plans are in place to develop the land in the near future and urges those making false claims to work with the province as the rightful owner.
For feedback, contact:[email protected]
