The Democratic Coalition for Change (DCC) Government will re-establish the customary land recording and registration process as a step towards strengthening customary land ownership to make tribal lands available for economic development.

This process is critical to allow customary landowners to participate in economic development activities on their customary land.

The Government recognized that land remains an important asset to Solomon Islanders in terms of providing livelihoods for the majority of the rural population and that any development on customary land must be sustainable and inclusive of tribal owners.

About 87 percent of land in the country is owned by tribal landowners while only 13 percent is government owned.

With land recording and registration among the top priority activities of the government - a nationwide consultation process will be conducted to ensure people are aware of the Government’s intention to help them benefit from their land and resources.

The Government wants to see that 87 percent of customary land is converted into productive assets in order to encourage socio-economic development and to foster high standards of living for the people of Solomon Islands.

With regards to government owned land, there will be a new control and management system to control the rate of urbanization in urban centers.

This will be done through the government’s first ever National Urbanization Policy which intends to purchase more land from tribal owners to expand existing town boundaries, create more economic opportunities and to resettle people who are affected by sea level rise and other climate change-related factors.

Most of the government owned land both in the capital and the provincial centers has hosted administrative, physical, social and economic services and currently,

these peri-urban centers have grown at a rate that outpaces the ability of the state to efficiently control and manage.

The roles and functions of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey will be enhanced through necessary reforms to take the lead in implementing these policy intentions.

 

Source: Press Release, Government Communications Unit