Tandai House of Chiefs claim their rights have been deprived by government, want dialogue
BY LORETTA B MANELE
The Tandai House of Chiefs are calling on the national government to have a roundtable discussion with them.
Father Patteson Tako, one of the chiefs spoke about this to the paper recently.
He stressed that the people of Tandai have been deprived of their rights by the national government through colonialism.
Tako highlighted that there is no proper acquisition of the lands of Tandai, people have become very poor in their own land and this is a sad story.
He explained that the Tandai House of Chiefs which include 5 tribes have met recently and request the present government to have a roundtable discussion with them in regards to partnering with HCC to create a native land trust account of which all business houses should be a part of for the benefit of the 5 tribes of Tandai.
Tako said from their meeting they have agreed to work with the government so that proper acquisition of Tandai is carried out, recognized and respected for the five tribes of Tandai namely; Haubata tribe, Kakau tribe, Simbo tribe, Lakuili tribe and Kindipale tribe.
He added that their other resolution is that the Seafront area must be well explained to the people of Tandai in regards to ownership according to the customs of their five tribes.
“We don’t dispute the current developers but we want some courtesy of respect and recognition in terms of benefits.”
Moreover, Tako said should we reflect on the past, there was an ethnic tension regarding land issues but we don’t want to repeat that.
“Time to fight is over.
All guns, knives and axes must be thrown in the sea. It is time for us to have dialogue to create a common understanding for the present and the future.”
Tako added that they also call on all MPAs of Guadalcanal province to work together with the Tandai House of Chiefs to address these issues.
“Without land, there is no development.”
Tako noted that the present government called on Tandai House of Chiefs to meet with the Ministry of Lands for the purpose of Greater Honiara and land recordings which they respect and accept.
However, he said the Tandai House of Chiefs also call on government to quickly address the Tandai land issue.
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