The Native Iowan

RIPEL plantation, Russell Islands.

FAILURE to settle the Russell Islands Plantation Estate Limited (RIPEL) saga and the continuous mudslinging between the Government and RIPEL has forced out Lavukal chiefs from their shells.

A paramount chief from Russell Islands Simon Lifa said all chiefs and original people of Russell Islands have decided to announce that the RIPEL saga is over.“Get out from our land and Island, is our message to both the Government and RIPEL,” Mr Lifa said.

He said they are tired of the continuous mudslinging and failure to resolve the issue.

“Incase the two parties forget, there are people who originally own the places and are living there. We have decided to not recognize any legal binding over the land that might have been reached by the groups concerned in the past.

“Our simple message now is get out and never return. We do not want no more investors. Don’t talk, think and even dream about it anymore.”

Mr Lifa said the fact is “innocent original people of Russell Islands born there and own those places”.

“Whatever legal moves that got our land hijacked at the first place, is obvious and we know how it all happened.

“It happened really fast, when we were in our food gardens. One of the past Governments facilitated it without proper consultations with us.

“We agreed that this is our birth right ownership stolen from us. Whether it’s RIPEL or the Government who legally owns the land now, the process was dodgy and happened just now, but we own it from the start.”

The paramount chief warned that they will never welcome any old or new investors.

“This is the end. Like it or not, we will get our land back by ensuring no more activities in Yandina as of now and onward.

“We do not consider any legal binding which resulted in the current ownership because it all came out from rubbish.”

Mr Lifa said seeing that the PM has also washed his hands from resolving the issue while RIPEL presses on the other end without any resolutions, the chiefs have decided to put an end to this issue.

“From all the chiefs, our simple message is leave Russell Islands alone. We declare it over; we get our land back and will never allow anymore developments.”

Russell Islands Plantation Estate Limited (RIPEL) legally owns the Yandina land.

When asked to respond to the outburst, RIPEL chairman Patrick Wong said he “had no comments to make to Chief Simon Lifa’s wild allegations”.

“It is quite simple, if Chief Simon Lifa believes that he, on behalf of the Lavukal people have such a legitimate and legal claim, then Chief Simon Lifa should just start a Court Case in the High Court of Solomon Islands and stop barking and act like a Chief.

“I hope Chief Simon Lifa lawyer is conversant with the Land & Title Act – Cap 133 and the principals of the Torrens Title system and the core system of indefeasibility, once a title is registered.”

By EDNAL PALMER