Posted by KE on 10/7/2003, 1:50 pm, in reply to "LAND OWNERSHIP" The central issue linking both economic and political freedoms is that of pluralism. In order for the government, rural communities and individual landowners in each "iora or arataa" to provide mutual reinforcement of any landownership system, there must be transparency for interaction and in the rules of the game. In most parts of Are'are, this was and still is a common knowledge. The new generation of Arekas have impose a whole new set of extra demands and challenges in our collective approaches to economic development. Some of these challenges have immersed as a result of the change of time, values, life style, experience, education and other sets persistent factors and teaching in our society. These changes has contributed to an additional sets of parameters in defining economic developments when considering landownership as a contributing factor! Historically, the Are'are landownership processes represent a legacy to provide conceptual structures and starting points, thus creating or strengthening the social fabric requires an intricate combination of continuity and change. If my interpretation of Huaitoa's posting is somewhat near his intention, then, there is a need for a greater understanding of the fact, that any change, if it is to be sustainable, must be integrated with elements of historical continuity of landownership. So, what is the nature of the required change? Humanity must change the way it feeds itself and our Are'are society is no different. New and better way of resources management, methods of production, distribution and land management system need to be developed to gather for economic development. In order to encourage economic development to be sustainable overtime, economic development on various system of landownership in Are'are must promote the wellbeing for all. Any new laws or reforms by the government towards economic development in customary landownership should also in my view take into account the followings; (a) As for many in or rural areas any in our rural areas, the rule of "government law" is seen as a ritual consisting of favouritism, impunity, and an exchange of favours - often leading to a cynical respect "for", without actual enforcement of the law! (b) more individualised land ownership through land titling for the purpose of economic development does not cause a fundamental shift or adverse affect in the relationship between people and the cultural values associated with land. Cheers Kustom Engineer
Thankyou Huaitoa to once again brought to the attention of this forum, your views on the Customary Landownership.
The existing customary-owned land system in the Southern Region, in my view, do not hinders economic development at the "community" level if the development is for the benefit of all. Past experience seemed to indicate that there was a common vision, a mutual understanding and knowledge within the Are'are society of the past when it comes to our customary and cultural systems of living. These had lead to both economic and infrastructure development like the Are'are Masina Company, Aramarawao Coconut Plantation, road and air transportation infrastructures development, and Christian missions being developed on privately owned lands. It is also important to note that these developments were based on the understanding, conditions and good will of the elder generation of the past.
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