Solomons grapples with Honiara squatter challenge

Saturday, 15 July 2006, 11:16 am
Press Release: Radio New Zealand International

Solomons grapples with Honiara squatter challenge

The Solomon Islands Ministry of Lands and Survey admits the government has a big problem on its hands with increasing illegal settlement on the outskirts of Honiara.

Unauthorised settlement in the Capital is growing at a rate of 26-percent per annum, forcing the government to consider legalising squatters’ occupation of government land.

A survey by the Ministry this year shows that about 17,000 of Honiara’s 50,000 residents are unauthorised settlers squatting on Government land.

The Solomons has an annual average population growth rate of 2.8 percent, the highest in the Pacific region.

The Minister of Lands and Survey, Leslie Boseto, says the government is concerned the illegal settlement problem is escalating.

“Oh, it’s a big problem: the influx of people coming in since a few years ago - quite a number coming in. The government strategy of trying to deal with the problem is to strengthen the capacity building and having a survey to find out how many.”

The Minister of Lands and Survey, Leslie Boseto.

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