𝗡𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗧𝗔 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗨𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗬 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗕𝗔𝗟 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗣𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗬 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟𝗢𝗣𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧

The North Malaita Constituency (NMC) office recently conducted a historic tribal reconciliation program, signifying its readiness to progress socio-economic development for its people and the rest of the constituency. Held at Fo’ondo from 25th to 27th April 2025, the event was organized specifically for the Abua’ero tribal clan.

It was successfully celebrated under the theme: “𝗔 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗥𝗲𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝘂𝗮’𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗻”. The reconciliation aimed not only to resolve grievances and disputes but also to reunite and restore family relationships, paving the way for tangible development in their land.This initiative was organized by the constituency office under its Land and Tribal Reconciliation program.

It was co-funded by the constituency office in collaboration with the Abua’ero tribe, individual families, and other stakeholders. “Development cannot happen in the air. It happens on the land. So, preparing people and their land for development is paramount,” Constituency Development Officer (CDO) Nason Nunufia said.

Mr. Nunufia further stated that, under the leadership of the Member of Parliament, Honourable Daniel Waneoroa, settling land disputes, reuniting tribes and people, and addressing land issues remain top priorities for fostering development in the constituency.“Since most of our lands are tribally owned, we must come up with models and avenues to engage people people-centred approach to deal with land issues and disputes, a collective paradigm,” Mr. Nunufia emphasized. He further underscored that

“The constituency office believes that for real development to happen, reconciliation must first take place. This is to ensure that people are prepared, organized, and ready to embrace development in their own land.”At the same time, Mr. Nunufia said that one of the major hindrances to development in our country is land disputes, an issue that requires a multifaceted approach involving an understanding of the complexities of our customary land tenancy arrangement, community leaders’ involvement, and the implementation of practical dispute resolution mechanisms.

A senior officer from the Ministry of Traditional Governance, Ben Oto’ofa, facilitated the reconciliation ceremony.The event also saw the transfer of tribal leadership titles from Elder Paramount Chief Philip Akote’e Damirara to Silas Benono Wawane, who is now the new Abua’ero Tribal Chief.CDO Nunufia described the event as emotional and historic, noting that it reunited families for the first time since their great-grandfathers left the land between 1910, some 115 years ago, “especially our lineage from Kwara’ae.”

Families gathered and reunited during the program came from Western Province, Kwara’ae, Langalanga, and North Malaita.Meanwhile, on behalf of the constituency office, CDO Nunufia acknowledged the new Abua’ero Tribal Chief, Silas Wawane, along with his family, Ben Tobis and his family, Kenley and his family, stakeholders, individual families, and everyone who contributed resources that made the program a success.

He also expressed profound gratitude to Hon. MP Waneoroa for his continued support of important constituency matters and initiatives that can lead to meaningful development for the people.Mr. Nunufia also recognized Solrice Company for its generous support of 20 bags of rice for the event.

- 𝙈𝙍𝘿 𝙋𝙍𝙀𝙎𝙎 𝙍𝙀𝙇𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙀