FLASH flood victims say they still have hopes that the Minister of Lands will live up to his promise to resettle them on government land in Honiara.
Chairman of those who used to live at Mbokonavera school evacuation centre, Charles Ketea, said what’s in everyone’s mind now is when they will move to the land minister Joseph Onika promised them.
“We are remaining patient because we look forward to moving into the land the government has promised,” Mr Ketea said.
“Currently, we are not worrying about anything,” he added.
“We don’t complain about anything because we were assured by the minister of lands he will allocate land to resettle us.
“What we are waiting for now is when are going to move to the new area.
“We are desperate and we want the ministry of lands to speed up the process of securing and pegging the land plots so that we can move in as soon as possible,” Mr Ketea said.
He added even if essential services such as water, road access, and electricity are not ready, they can move and start build if only the pegging of land plots are done.
Mr Ketea said they can take tanks and solar panels with them and settle while waiting for road access, electricity, and water to be connected later.
He said even if they were not fed properly, the only thing they request from the government through the ministry of lands and its relevant authorities is to speed up the land arrangement.
“The ministry already promise us and we expect that to happen as our hopes are high and want to see that happen soon.”
The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), on the other hand, told the victims they cannot help them with issues relating to the land since their primary work is dealing with relief efforts and emergency responses.
However, a spokesman encouraged the victims to pressurise their MPs to follow up on the promise as these issues can only be discussed at the upper level by their leaders with the relevant ministries and government offices.
Several phone calls to the Permanent Secretary of Lands Stanley Wale for comments on the progress of the land arrangements went unanswered.
By DANIEL NAMOSUAIA
