FORMER Guadalcanal premier Anthony Veke has echoed the call by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare for landowners to open up their land for development.
Mr Sogavare made the call in his New Year’s message to the nation.
Mr Veke said Mr Sogavare’s call is an indication of his government’s intention to continue with the Land Reform Programme established by the last government.
He added the need for landowners to open up their land for development cannot be further stated.
The former premier also called on the national government to look into the issues surrounding Tenaru, Mamara, and Honiara land to ensure traditional owners of these land benefitted from them.
Mr Veke also added any land reform exercise the Sogavare government plans to undertake must include traditional landowners.
By ELLIOT DAWEA
