The Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says people must be ready to embrace change if the country is to progress.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare Photo: RNZI
He has warned about the extreme idolising of customary practices.
Speaking at a Land Reform Workshop Mr Sogavare says Solomon Islanders in the 21st Century face a real challenge to accept change that will progress the country.
He says Solomon Islanders must appreciate that in accepting the challenge to run their own affairs as a sovereign nation, they have consented to placing the country as an independent competitor in the global scene and to be successful.
The Prime Minister says the process by which land is to be mobilised for economic activity is a challenging proposition in Solomon Islands.
He says banks want individual title but this is not allowed in custom.
Mr Sogavare says a land registration policy that is based solely on economic rationales will not work because Solomon Islanders need to know their rights in custom are protected.
So he says solving this issue is the starting point of any programme to get Solomon Islanders to agree to take part in a land registration programme.
