Landowning tribes of Kongulai water source will now be receiving annual land rent of $850,000 from the national government.
This new amount was spelled out in a new Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) the landowners signed with the Government on Tuesday 29 November 2023.
Kongulai, located on the western outskirts of Honiara, is where Solomon Water drew 40 per cent of its water supply to the city. The other 60 per cent were drawn from boreholes and other water sources around Honiara.
A statement issued after the signing of the MOA said the annual land rent shall be paid into a single bank account, to be designated by the landowners, commencing with a payment of $3 million for the years 2021 to 2023 inclusive and part of 2024.
“The MOA comes about as a result of years of protracted negotiations for a review of the lease following a High Court judgement in 2015 which states that nobody owns flowing water,” the statement said.
“Therefore landowners are not permitted to benefit from a share of the water extracted by Solomon Water,” it added.
“The landowners thus felt they were missing out on the income generated from their land.
“In August this year, the landowners met the Prime Minister and a payment of $3 million was promised to them.
“The MOA was negotiated over the following weeks, to determine how the payment fits in with the current government lease over the land.
“The landowners also had to appoint new trustees to take over from deceased tribal leaders, and this was finally achieved in October.”
Under the MOA, landowners are to be permanently restrained from, and further agree to not block or interfere in any way the flow of natural water entering Kongulai from sinkholes further inland, including from Kovi stream, so long as the lease subsists, and to do all things necessary to persuade the people they own the land on behalf of and the landowners of the wider catchment area to do likewise.
Kongulai Water Source, Guadalcanal |Photo curtesy of Solomon Water
Minister of Mines and Energy Bradley Tovosia, during the signing ceremony reminded the landowners to abide by the Memorandum of Agreement.
“Today’s signing is an assurance of all parties’ commitment to the MOA,” Tovosia stated.
“From now, land issues in relation to Kongulai water source must be channeled through the Commissioner of Lands, not the OPMC or other Ministries,” he added.
“Solomon Water needs the support of all stakeholders including landowners.”
The new MOA also spelt out that the national government’s point of contact for all payments for the land is the Commissioner of Lands, and not the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Commissioner of Lands Alan McNeil said he’s happy that an agreement was finally reached
with landowners that provides for a permanent and legal basis on which payments will be made into the future, and that it is a deal that satisfies the wishes of landowners while at the same time protecting Solomon Water’s right to operate in this area.
Landowner rep Charles Chilivi thanked the Government for its legal commitment, and pledging compliance on their part.
The annual land rental will be up for review after every 8 years from the previous 10.