A CENTRAL Islands Province resident Nelson Waneamoe backs the renewed call by the Luapel House of Chiefs on the national government to lift the ban imposed on the harvesting and trading of beche-de-mers.
The Luapel Chiefs last week renewed their call on the national government to lift the ban because it impacts on the livelihood of the people of the Malaita Outer Islands (MOI) as they rely solely on marine resources for their daily survival.
Mr Waneamoe said normally the ban on the harvesting of beche-de-mers is imposed for just more than a year as part of conservation measures but this time, the imposition of the ban has surpassed three years and it is adversely affecting the people of MOI and other Solomon Islanders also heavily reliant on these marine commodities for their sustenance.
He said the national government should immediately lift the ban as beche-de-mers are a commodity that brings in good money for coastal dwellers in the country, let alone the people of MOI who have no land resources to turn to for their survival, to make an income.
“I for one as a resident of Ngella Island in the Central Islands Province I support the renewed call by the Luapel House of Chiefs to the national government to lift the ban on the harvesting and sale of beche-de-mers. The lifting of this ban is overdue and should be a priority matter for the government to consider,” Mr Waneamoe said.
He said it is better for the ban to be lifted immediately to allow the national government to boost its revenue base through taxes from the trading of these lucrative marine commodities instead of maintaining the ban, which only attracts illegal harvesting and results in the loss of millions of dollars that should be paid in taxes to the state.
“Both the government and the people will benefit from the trading of this marine resource if the ban is lifted. Hence, it would be wise for the government to lift the ban so ordinary Solomon Islands can lawfully benefit from their beche-de-mer resources. The trading of these resources will also benefit the state through taxes and through the tax money, the government will have money to provide services to the nation,” Mr Waneamoe added.
Mr Waneamoe said ordinary Solomon Islanders are hard-hit by inflation due to the country’s poor economy and it would be justice denied to them if the national government turns a blind eye and deaf ear to their plight.
By IAN LADDS OSO
Solomon Star, Honiara
