Dear Editor – Please allow me space in your paper to respond to the letter written by Patricia Sam Dalu, Published in the Island Sun on Wednesday 16th March 2016.
In the letter, Patricia Sam Dalu raised the question of who mandated the current Bina/Talifu Interim committee per say and therefore the registration of Bina/Talifu land.
The following is a brief to explain some of the issues Patricia Sam Dalu may need to refresh herself with as the road towards Bina Harbour development continues
a) The interest to develop Bina Harbour as a National Project started with the National Government and Malaita Province initiating or Commissioning Acquisition Processes (there were two), that started with the appointment of the first Acquisition officer in 1990. The progress towards the development of Bina Harbour has now been 25 years in the making
b) Patricia Sam Dalu, was never personally involved in the Acquisition processes until 2008, when she appeared as the spokesperson for Peter Maeita, at Appeals to Magistrate against the second Acquisition determination.
c) The following were the parties who lodged Appeals against the second Acquisition determination on 1st December 1999, including the Listed Respondents
a. Alice Willy (Representing Talifu/Usuali Clan)
b. Renaldo Walesua (Representing Kwalaguru/Kwaleugna Clan)
c. Alphius Samosia (Representing Kwaleunga Clan) * Spokesperson Augustine Maemarine
d. Eiljah Toloau (Representing Rafea Clan)
e. Orkeley Ramolelea (Representing Tolobusu Clan)
f. Peter Maeita (Representing O’ori/Rafea Clan)* spokesperson- Patricia Sam Dalu
g. Christian Billy (Representing Namonako Clan)
h. John Fisango (Representing Ogou/Rafea Clan)
i. Silvanus Ramonoto (Representing Funamoli/Rafea Clan)
j. Jacineth Boboria (Representing Aefeta’easi/Bina Clan)
k. Martin Baelalo (Representing Larione/Kwaleugna Clan)
l. David Maomaigiso (Representing Sialau/Rafea Clan)
m. Gabriel Sigalo (Representing Maeana/Kwaleugna Clan)
n. Vincent Talauburi (Representing Baekwa Clan)
o. Poeni Noda (Representing Aniboni Clan)
p. Joseph Maeaniani (Representing Ferafasi Clan)
d) At the first assembly of Appellants against the second Acquisition Determination at Auki Magistrate in early 2008 together will all the listed Respondents, the idea to take the Appeals back to Chiefs, (including the Lafari Ngalilasifono Councils of Chiefs) was suggested for differences to be sorted at that level. All the assembled Appellants and Respondents agreed to take their cases back to sort out their issues at the chief’s level except Patricia Sam Dalu, who insisted that courts of law needed to hear her appeal case. Her insistence on recognising the chief’s council now seem blasphemous to say the least.
e) After hearing Appeal cases against the Acquisition Determination of 1999, a decree was handed out by Magistrate in May 2008 and part of the decree reads as follows;
a. 3-“ The appeal of Peter Maeita is dismissed”
f) It is also important to note that O’ori and Faárua are different lands that are not part of the interest area Bina/Talifu land.
g) After being dismissed at the Magistrate Court level, Patricia Sam Dalu and Peter Maeita were not a party or part of the group who registered or lodged further appeals to the High Court in 2009
The mandate for the Interim Committee was sorted through proper legal process (High Court Consent Order), a process Patricia Sam Dalu preferred over the Chiefly processes as per her response to the request in 2008 to sort Appellant differences with Chiefs.
The development of Bina Harbour has followed rigorous Chiefs, Acquisition and Courts of law proceedings. These are avenues available for Patricia Sam Dalu to raise any of her grievances at and not through published media.
A lot of our forefathers and people had invested a lot of energy and time to ensure Bina Harbour development plan happens and the Lafari Ngalilasifono Council of Chiefs are part of ongoing consultation meetings.
We urge Patricia Sam Dalu to stop confusing people through published media and raise issues through appropriate avenues or work with us to ensure development happens in and on Malaita.
Augustine Maemarine
Spokesperson for Alphius Samosia
