Barora-ite Land, re [1985] SBLC 2 (5 June 1985)

THE LAND OF BARORA-ITE KIA

After four days of hearing evidences, witnesses, genealogies from over 30 speakers the Paramount chief of Isabel and with 4 other chiefs from Kia district gave their decisions on the land parcel of lands in Barora ite.

Decisions

Agreed

1. That no one single clan or line wholly and solely owned the entire Barora ite or commonly referred to as Pelopeka.
2. That four original landowning clans owned Barora ite and adjacent islets: These clans or lines are:
   • Paikei
   • Fafalehe
   • Makara
   • Sinagi.
3. That descendants of the original landowning clans to hold and to have land rights, interests and properties in Barora ite.
4. That descendants of original landowning clans or lines and persons having inherited or acquired land rights and continue to have/enjoy rights over land, interests and properties in parcel of lands and areas recognised by tradition, custom transactions and acquired rights through any manner of formal customary compensation.
5. That all descendants of the original land owning clans, and persons who have acquired land rights, properties by traditional and customary transactions and by customary compensation to respect and honour the land rights, properties, interests and boundaries of each other.
6. That each original landowning clans to establish individual Trusteeships, constituting representatives of the four original land owning clans or lines and representatives of attached subsidiary clans or lines who have interests properties, and land rights in each of the area boundaries (chiefs of Kia and area councillors of Kia to organise meetings and indentify members of Trusteeships).
7. That the name Rogovo is not Kia origin. Persons who now claim themselves of Rogovo clan belong to Makara clan.
8. Dismissed the claims by members of the so called 'Rogovo clan' that were suppressed (Padata) by chiefs of Kia, specifically Edmond Bako in the past, to do development and owned lands in Barora ite.
9. Boundaries

Following evidences from the hearing the paramount chief and chiefs of Kia agreed on the following boundaries.
Paikei clan/line or descendants and attached clans
All lands commencing at Matavagi to Rerekahana and across to Sole.
Makara - including 'Rogovo'
All lands from Rerekaharo to Kulo and across the island.
Fafalehe/descendants/attached lines
All lands from Kulo to Marisa, across the island and including Gizunalapu.
Sinagi/Descendants
All lands from Veaekeo to Borubeana including Nidero and islets within and across the Island.
NB: The finer details of these general boundaries will be worked out by the chiefs and clan members of Kia.

Signed

Rt Bp D. Tuti - Paramount Chief
Mr. W. Miki - Chief
Mr S. Zaku - Chief
Mr W. Vahi - Chief
Mr H. Gigini - Chief

These decisions were made in the presence of Mr. D. C. Lulei MP West Isabel and representatives of the clans involved in the dispute and observors in the hearing.

Done on Wednesday 5th June 1985.