CUSTOMARY NORMS, PRACTICES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED: PM SOGAVARE
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare Chair of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. Photo credit: OPMC.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has said serious considerations on our customary norms and practices will advance Solomon Islands forward.
The Prime Minister made the statement during the Solomon IslandsNational Lands Conference in Honiara yesterday.
Mr. Sogavare said customary norms and practices relating to land in the country is a source of wealth and binds customary tribes together as a people of very strong culture, religion, and political significance in custom.
He says Solomon Islands must be careful in idealizing customary practices for development initiatives.
“As Solomon Islanders living in the 21st Century, we have a real challenge in our hands in this regard. We must be careful not to go to the extreme of idolising our customary practices that are clearly repugnant to the ideals of development in looking for best-compromised positions. We should start from the reality that and that is whether we like it or not, our economic system is here to stay and therefore, a lot of adjustments are required.”