by Georgina Maka’a
Suspended Lands Commissioner Alan McNeil has got his job back.
This came two weeks after his dramatic suspension by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service Luke Cheka on 13 November 2025.
On Friday 28 November 2025, Cheka sent another letter to McNeil, letting him know that his suspension has been revoked, and that he must resume duties immediately.
The letter did not provide any explanations why McNeil’s suspension was revoked.
McNeil confirmed to In-depth Solomons the revocation of his suspension.
“…..yes, my suspension has been revoked,” he said.
“I intend to hold a press conference in the new week,” the lands commissioner added.
It’s been widely believed McNeil’s suspension has been spearheaded by the Minister of Lands, Housing and Survey, Lency Vokia.
Vokia was previously removed from the Commerce portfolia and shifted to Lands after he travelled to Vietnam without Cabinet sanction and signed a deal with a company called SI Group.
Under the deal, SI Group will become the “strategic adviser and priority investor” for the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) the government wants to introduce here.
In the suspension letter, Cheka told McNeil his suspension was based on the following:
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Fraudulent execution of lease documents (RT 10 Form) and an MOU on 26 November 2023, knowing that the trustees involved had already passed away, relating to parcel 191-064-1 (Kongulai water source);
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Breach of a High Court Order (Civil Case No. 463 of 2009);
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Misrepresenting a ‘Good Will’ payment by former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare as a final payment for the disputed November 2023 lease agreement.
McNeil had denied the allegations, and vowed to clear his name.
“I have solid grounds and good evidence to prove that all of those allegations are false,” he said.
He added had the Ministry of Public Service offered him an opportunity, he would have explained himself.
He also said he was trying to understand the motivation behind his suspension.
“I’m suspecting that it might not be related to Kongulai at all. Kongulai may have been used as an excuse to remove me, perhaps for other reasons,” McNeil said.
Over the last five years, McNeil has initiated several litigations that resulted in government land that had been illegally or carelessly allocated being returned to the state.
One of the major cases he is pursuing, with the backing of Cabinet, is the resumption of Levers Solomons Ltd land in the Lungga–Henderson–Tenaru area, east of Honiara. Levers has challenged the move, and the matter remains before the High Court.