BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Makira Ulawa Provincial Government (MUPG) has proposed to host a traditional Chupu ceremony with Guadalcanal Provincial Government and traditional land owners of Okea land, at the end of this month.

The chupu ceremony aims to honour Okea traditional landowners for their recognition to allow their land for the province and to kick start development of the land. 

In an interview with Island Sun this week, Premier Stanley Siapu said, while they set to begin the implementation of a plan to develop this provincial owned land.

“First of all, I must thank Guadalcanal provincial government and traditional landowners of Okea land for understanding and recognition of MUPG as the sole rightful owner of the land.

“The province acquired the land about 27 years ago, which is approximately 5.87 hectors, and throughout the ethnic tension the land remains.

“In 2019, my previous government began to work on plans to develop the land.

“The current government reintroduced the plans and together with Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey, had consulted traditional landowners and other responsible stakeholders.

“After all these works, the common understanding reached is that the Makira Ulawa province is still recognised as the sole owner of the land,” he said.

Following this, Siapu said the province proposes a chupu presentation to the traditional owners of Okea land, to allow the province to begin development of the land.

He said MUPG’s plan in place is to develop the land through farming of vegetables and cassava to supply Sape processing facility.

Siapu added that through the development of the land, it will provide avenue especially students from the province, who undertake agriculture to do their practical studies.

He said this is just the snippet of the plan MUPG has for Okea land, and as time goes on, more development is expected for the land, which will not only benefit the province but the country as a whole.

Siapu expressed that Okea will become a commercial land of the province due to its strategic location, and the province remains committed to work with stakeholders to develop it.

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