BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Several key government development sites in East Honiara are under threat from illegal squatter settlements, prompting urgent calls for action from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
The targeted lands include high-priority sites earmarked for national development, such as the, Bloody Ridge Memorial, the new national hospital project, and a proposed public cemetery.
During a hearing on Saturday, July 19, 2025, PAC members pressed the Permanent Secretary (PS) for Lands, Housing and Survey, Stanley Waleanisia, to take immediate and aggressive measures to reclaim these lands.
“These are government assets. You need to be tough in your actions to return those lands.
“Some houses built there are permanent structures, mostly by returning seasonal workers. Something illegal has happened and it needs your attention,” PAC told the Lands Ministry.
The committee warned that if left unaddressed, illegal occupation could derail major national projects and jeopardize land availability for future development.
The issue of land encroachment is not limited to these sites.
PAC members also cited similar problems faced by Aviation authorities, who have been hindered in their efforts to expand the Honiara International Airport due to squatter settlements.
In response, PS Waleanisia assured the committee that a dedicated investigation team, including the Commissioner of Lands, will be dispatched this week to assess the situation on the ground.
“I will send a team, including the Commissioner of Lands, to investigate the problem,” Waleanisia confirmed during the hearing.
PAC members stressed that lack of resources, such as government vehicles must not be used as an excuse for inaction.
“Do not use the excuse of vehicle shortages. This is an urgent matter. If we don’t act now, there will be no land left for future national development,” they warned.
The illegal occupation of government land has become a recurring issue, raising serious concerns about enforcement, coordination between ministries, and the need for stronger land governance.
The Ministry of Lands is now under pressure to act swiftly to reclaim public land and prevent further illegal encroachments.
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