CHIEFS and elders of the outer islands in Temotu Province have backed recent calls for the Government to lift the ban on bech-de-mer to save their suffering children.
This call came amidst recent requests by the people of Ontong Java in Malaita Province outer islands for the Danny Philip led regime to lift the bech-de-mer ban to help their people. Speaking on behalf of the paramount chief of Duff Islands assistant
paramount chief Noel Rockston Hatu said people in their island including five other islands have been affected
since the ban was in place in 2009.
The other five islands are Nupani, Nukapu, Pileni, Nifiloli and Matena.
Mr Hatu said currently people are suffering because of hunger and children could not continue their education because parents could not afford to pay for their school fees.
“We depend on the sea for food and income but since the ban was endorsed we have been suffering,” he said.
Mr Hatu said he travelled to Honiara on behalf of their chiefs, elders and their people to plea to the Government.
He said the current situation amongst the leaders and the people was tense and the Government’s failure to address their problem would result in bloodshed.
He said they also face similar problems faced by the people of Ongtong Java in the Malaita outer islands.
“Our people are currently accusing us of negligence to their problems and they are appealing that we do something about the beche-de-mer issue before things get out of hand,” Mr Hatu said.
Chief Hatu said in Duff Islands alone about 84 canoes have already been prepared to begin harvesting.
He added that if the Prime Minister was to consider lifting the ban he should re-consider the time frame.
“Lifting the ban for only three months would not be appropriate for us because we live in the open sea and sometimes the weather would not be on our side,” he said.
“Therefore, three months would be like three days to us so we are proposing the Government lift the ban for one or two years.”
Meanwhile, the chief said people living on the atolls in Temotu Province are some of the many Solomon Islanders that have been neglected of Government services since independence.
He said they lack proper sanitation, basic health services, education, shipping and transportation to name a few.
“Our Member of Parliaments have neglected us for years and we are suffering,” Mr Hatu said.
The Duff Islands (Pileni Taumako) are a small island group lying to the northeast of the Santa Cruz Islands in Temotu Province.
They are also sometimes known as the Wilson Islands.
The inhabitants speak a Polynesian language but physically they resemble Melanesian features.
By DOUGLAS MARAU
dated: 21/07/11
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