THE Luapel House of Chiefs have renewed their call on the government to lift the ban imposed on the harvesting and trading of beche-de-mer.
The renewed call followed reports that the Member of Parliament (MP) for Malaita Outer Islands, the Minister for Lands, Housing and Survey, Polycarp Paea at a Caucus meeting on Tuesday spoke against the government’s intention to lift the ban and requested the deployment of a patrol boat to MOI to confiscate illegally-harvested beche-de-mer.
A Luapel Chief Hugo Kivans told Solomon Star on Wednesday that the Luapel House of Chiefs which comprise chiefs from Luaniua and Pelau were unhappy to hear that their MP has spoken against the lifting of the ban and even requested that a police patrol boat be deployed to confiscate all harvested beche-de-mer.
Chief Kivans said MP Paea’s actions are a show of pretense and greed as he himself is involved in the illegal harvesting of beche-de-mer at Ontong Java and has received bags of bcehe-de-mer brought over to Honiara by four boats last week.
He said because of the pretense and greed of the MP, they have decided to expose his secret involvement in the illegal beche-de-mer harvesting.
Chief Kivans said the MP knows very well that marine products, including beche-de-mer, are the source of income for the people of MOI and the beche-de-mer ban affects the basic livelihood of his constituents and he should be representing their interests at the national government decision-making level.
“Honourable Paea is also involved in the illegal beche-de-mer harvesting just as every other people on Ontong Java. But he is so greedy that he wants the police to go and confiscate the beche-de-mer of all the other people in Ontong Java, while he himself has already secured his bags of beche-de-mer that were transported to Honiara by four boats.
“Hon Paea wants the people of Ontong Java not to harvest beche-de-mer, while he himself involves in beche-de-mer harvesting and supplies them to his Asian connections.
“We the Chiefs of Luapel are grieved by Honourable Paea’s actions at the Caucus Meeting on Tuesday, which were a denial of the cries of the people of Lord Howe to the government to lift the ban. We are desperately waiting on the government to lift the ban but the MP tried to override a consensus by Caucus to lift the ban.”
Chief Kivans said the lifting of the ban is particularly crucial for the people of MOI due to the fact that they are totally reliant on marine products as the source of income and their livelihood.
“Life on the atolls is very much different from life on bigger islands. We solely rely on marine resources for our survival because Kumara and Cassava and fruit trees on Lord Howe do not bear fruits. With money earned from the sale of marine products, we are able to buy rice and other food items and one packet of rice can cost up to SBD50.00
“Our kids cannot go to school with an empty stomach as they only eat Kakake (swamp taro) for breakfast which is not enough to sustain them.”
He said if the MP wants to refute what they reveal about his involvement in the illegal harvesting of beche-de-mer, the Luapel House of Chiefs are ready to go to court to defend their claim.
Chief Kivans added that the people of Luaniua are ready to fight against any patrol boat deployed to MOI for the confiscation of their harvested beche-de-mer as they are determined that it is better to stand for their survival.
“If the government wishes to avoid disunity and conflict in Lord Howe, then it should consider our call for the lifting of the ban.”
Chief Kivans said the harvesting of beche-de-mer does not only benefit the people of MOI but also the government of Solomon Islands through taxations.
“Taxations from beche-de-mer exports can contribute greatly to government revenues and its services to people nationwide.”
By IAN LADDS OSO
Solomon Star, Honiara
