A resident of the Shortland Islands, Derrick Pako, has joined the Luapel House of Chiefs in Malaita province, in urging the government to lift the ban on the harvesting and trading of beche-de-mer.
Pako expressed his support for Luapel Chief Hugo Kivans, stressing that lifting the ban would provide much-needed income for people in his village.
He also called on politicians from the Western Province to back this initiative, reminding them that they were elected to represent and support their communities.
“Many people in the villages are struggling to earn a living due to the ban on beche-de-mer,” Pako said.
He stressed the importance of allowing villagers to sell their products to buyers, which would alleviate some of the financial hardships they face.
The call to lift the ban follows remarks by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Malaita Outer Islands, Polycarp Paea, who, during a Caucus meeting on Tuesday, opposed the government’s intention to ease the restrictions.
Paea, who also serves as the Minister for Lands, Housing, and Survey, requested the deployment of a patrol boat to the Malaita Outer Islands (MOI) to seize illegally harvested beche-de-mer.
Chief Kivans told the Solomon Star that the Luapel House of Chiefs, representing chiefs from Luaniua and Pelau, were dismayed by their MP’s stance.
The chiefs expressed frustration, accusing MP Paea of hypocrisy.
According to Kivans, Paea himself has been involved in the illegal harvesting of beche-de-mer at Ontong Java and had allegedly received several bags of the product in Honiara, delivered by four boats last week.
