MEMBER of Parliament for South East Vella La Vella Constituency and Minister for Commerce, Industries, Labour & Immigration, Fredrick Koloqeto has appealed to his people to open up land for development.
He was speaking in Parliament during the Sine Die motion, Tuesday this week.
“I want to appeal to the people of Vella La Vella to allow their land for development; for we people of Vella will benefit of them.
He relates a story where his people disputed an important development of airport in his constituency in parliament.
He said a month ago, he rehabilitated Barokoma Airport with Rural Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
After the completion of the rehabilitation of the airport, the Solomon Airlines supposed to do a test flight.
But before the flight to test the airport, a letter was addressed to the Solomon Airlines Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Brett Gebers, claiming the ownership of the land.
So, the test flight was cancelled.
“A month ago, I rehabilitated Barokoma Airport with the RCDF money, tomorrow for a test flight, a letter from people of Vella claiming to be land owner of the land was written and sent to the CEO of Solomon Airlines claiming that they’re the rightful owner of the land.
“My what, where were you when I did the rehabilitation of the airport?” he questioned.
He said all the developments that the government do is for our own benefit.
“You stop land and what will happen on land?” he questioned his people.
He said we are just custodians of the land; just allow our land for government to develop.
He added the developments is not for the benefit of people of Choiseul, not even man in reef or is not man in Rennel but will for our own benefit.
“So I appeal to my people of South East Vella to please allow our land so that development can happen in our constituency,” he said.
He said development happen in Western Province but in Gizo, Noro and Munda not in Vella.
“The population in Vella is growing and we must develop our land so that we must not go and full up at Noro, Gizo and Munda.
Mr Koloqeto went on to say that if they develop their land they will not need to travel to Gizo, Noro and Munda to look for important services that government usually provide for the citizens of this country.
By LACHLAN EDDIE
Newsroom, Honiara
