Meltenoven v Meltesaen [2023] VUIC 1; Land Case 3693 of 2016 (11 August 2023)

IN THE MALEKULA ISLAND COURT OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU (Civil Jurisdiction)

Land Case No. 3693 of 2016

BETWEEN:	FAMILY KAI MELTENOVEN Original Claimant
AND:	FAMILY MELTESAEN Counter Claimant 1 FAMILY SARAVANU Counter Claimant 2 FAMILY MELTEVIELSER ULRICK Counter Claimant 3 FAMILY REDISON MELTEK Counter Claimant 4 FAMILY TEPATUN EDUARD Counter Claimant 5 FAMILY MALESY Counter Claimant 6 FAMILY BALBAL Counter Claimant 7 FAMILY MALTAUS Counter Claimant 8 FAMILY NALESI Counter Claimant 9 FAMILY RALE Counter Claimant 10

Coram: Senior Magistrate Hannaline Nalau Ilo
Justice Douglas Vatdal
Justice Joses Lingi
Justice Patison Peter
Clerk: Collyne Tete Maki

Date of Hearing: 19^th June, 2023 to 28^th July 2023
Date of Judgement: 11^th August, 2023
Custom Land Name: Nesingwar Custom Land, North West Malekula

JUDGMENT

1. BACKGROUND
   

Hemia hem namba 2 decision blong Malekula Island Court afta we

Malekula Island Court I jajem kes ia long November, 2008 mo faenem se Counter Claimant 6 (CC 6) Celine Malesy we hemi daughter blong Jerenmal nao hemi custom owner blong graon Nesingwar.

Risen blong referem back matter ikam long Island Kot from igat dispute se long Custom blong graon long North East Malekula, wan woman ino save ownem graon from hemi againsem custom.

Nesingwar custom graon istap antap long bush samples between Vao mo Atchin, long North East Malekula.

Long 2008, I bin gat 12 parties everyone, long this time, Family Rory mo Family Malror I withdrawem claim blong tufala mo wan new claimant hemi kam inside we hemi Family Rale I mekem wan total blong 11 parties.

2. LAW WE I APPLY LONG CUSTOM GROUND.
   

2.1 Constitution (Mama Loa)

Article 73: Every ground inside long Republic blong Vanuatu hemi belong ol indigenious kastom ona wetem ol disenden blong olgeta.

Article 74: Rule blong Kastom hemi fomem besis blong onasip mo use blong land long Republic blong Vanuatu.

Article 75: Ol indigenous Citizen blong Republic blong Vanuatu we oli winim ground folem wan recognized system blong land tenure bae I karem perpetual ownership long ground blong olgeta.

2.2 Land Reform Act, Cap 123

5. Application igo long Island Court taem identity blong custom owner hemi dispute

(1) Long any case taem we I gat daot lo custom ona long wan graon we wan alienator I occupaem, wan long ol custom groups we oli klemem graon ia I save apply igo lo Aelan Kot we Island Courts Act [Cap. 167] I establishim, blong hemi faenem onasip blong ground.

2.3 Island Courts Act, Cap 167

Application blong customary law

Folem provision blong law ia, wan Island Court bae hemi administerem customary law we i prevail inside long territorial jurisdiction blong hem so long as hemi no agensem wan written law mo hemi no agensem justice, morality mo gudfala order.

2.4 Custom Loa blong Nesingwar – North East Malekula

Hemia list blong ol custom law we Court ia hemi establishim during long Court hearing mo hemi declarem olsem ol stret custom practice/loa blong area we disputed land hemi stap long hem:

1. Right blong ownem ground hemi follem bloodline blong man (patrilineal). Blood blong man hemi paramount over long blood blong adoption mo blood blong woman taem yumi tokbaot custom graon.
   
2. From reason ia, hemi wan recognised custom practice se taem wan man inogat pikinini boy, bae hemi adoptem wan nara pkinini boy blong replacem blood blong hem long next generation. Custom hemi requirem tu se boy ia hemi mas be closely related by blood or sapos no hemi mas kamaot within long sem tribe blong people we I ownem custom graon.
   
3. Custom adoption hemi valid nomo taem hemi folem stret custom fasin/practice blong custom adoption. Wan valid adoption hemi givim full right long adoption blong ownem graon from hemi replacem blood.
   
4. Taem inomo gat wan surviving blood blong man mo taem we inomo gat wan valid custom adoption I tekem place long wan custom boundary, woman hemi save ownem graon wetem ol condition mo directive blong wan custom chief long custom graon ia.
   
5. Wan custom graon boundary hemi belong long wan or moa tribe blong pipol, we oli live inside long wan custom boundary mo oli identify olgeta wetem wan language mo wan custom believe mo practices.
   
6. Man we I pem graon long landowner hemi karem right blong usim graon nomo, hemi nogat right blong ownership.
   
7. Right we man I pasem long narafala man from any narafala reason hemi no right blong ownem graon be hemi right blong use mo right blong lukaotem or ocupaem nomo.
   
8. Man we I aot long custom graon or boundary blo hem from any reason mo go live long nara custom graon mo boundary blong nara high chief, hemi save go olsem wan user long graon nomo. Man ia free blong mekem namangi blong hem lo nara ples ia, be hemi nogat right blong ownem graon we igo perform custom long hem, hemi gat right blong usim graon nomo.
   
3. STORIAN BLONG OL CLAIMANT
   

3.1 Klem blong Original Claimant (OC)

Spokesman blong Family Meltenoven hemi Maxim Meltenoven. Olgeta oli biliv se olgeta oli desdendant blong Nahul mo Vengelo, ol man Nesingwar. Tufala ancestors ia I originate long Tongov, Vao Island we tribal war I mekem oli move igo findem refuge long Balihor hemia long Lebu inside long Nesingwar custom graon.

Then later I bin gat war bakeken between ol man Lebou mo Tolamb I forsem olgeta I ronwei wetem ol family blong olgeta igo stap long Vao smol island. Long ples ia nao oli createm nasara blong olgeta we oli calem Sigon.

Hemi claim se igat 7 nasara everiwan inside long Newsingwar, igat Lebsor, Jarmatsu, Tonas, Larang, Tongov (Boravmaras), Vesarsar mo Vilahatpale.

Blong supportem claim blong family Meltenoven, spokesman I talemaot se I bin gat sam court hearing long past we oli bin recognisem mo upholdem rights blong olgeta. Long 1975 wan village meeting I declarem family Meltenoven olsem custom owner blong Nesingwar. Mo long 2^nd November, 3 olfala oli bin authorisem custom history mo identity blong family Meltenoven, Long 11 December, 1979, Supreme Court hemi mensenem long wan case blong damges long property se family Meltenoven hemi custom owner blong Nesingwar, Folem hemia, long 14^th January, 1980, ol chiefs oli meet mo agree se graon ia Nesingwar hemi blong family Meltenoven. Bakeken long 1981, Area Court hemi pronounsem family Meltenoven olsem custom owner blong Nesingwar.

Spokesman hemi claim se I bin gat wan olfala nem blong hem Jinmal I maretem Lebulul. Jinmal I tet away long Lebulbul mo oli berem hem long Sigon. Widow blong hem Lebulbul I stap mo wan man nem blong hem Meltevielser I givim pikinini long hem. Ol man ibin tokbaot Lebulbul over long issue mekem oli mekem hem igo back long Jarmatsu nasara, long ples ia hemi maretem Jerenmal. Lebulbul hemi bonem wan girl nem blong hem Celine. Chief Jeremnal wan man Vao nem blong hem Liren Ettien nao I shutum ded hem. Celine mo mama blong hem Lebulbul I ronwei mo hide long Atchin island long nasara blong Amelmarur. Celine later hemi maretem Gabriel Malesi blong Rano.

Spokeman hemi confirm long cross examination se family Meltenoven I never pem graon long Celine, wan Vt.30,000 we Meltoven Kasimiri Kai we istap long New Caledonie I givim hemi wan money we Melterovo Eduard i askem blong pem woman long hem but later oli no save givim bak money ia, oli promise blong katem wan piece graon long hem, Kasimir Kai I talem blong oli givim long brata blong hem Pierre Kai Meltenoven. Hemi denyem se hemi pem graon long family Edward Tebatun.

Meltenoven I claim smol fire blong nasara Amelmarur

First witness blong Family Meltenoven hemi Casimir Meltenoven, hemi givim evidence se hem nao I bin givim Vt.30,000 long Eduard Melterovo blong pem woman long hem. Edward Melterovo inogat money blong givim back mekem oli se bae oli katem pis graon lo hem. Hemi strongly oposem se hemi no pem graon long Nesingwar.

Second Witness blong OC hemi Remi Meltenoven hemi givim evidence se hemi tru ol chief oli holem meeting long Sigon. Remi I confirm se after long meeting blong ol chief long 1980 we oli faenem se graon Nesingwar hemi blong family Meltenoven, hem wetem papa blong hem tufala I karem 500 pound (vt.100,000) igo givim long Celine blong talem thank you lo hem from hemi lukaot Nesingwar graon longtaem ikam.

Namba tri witness blong OC hemi James Bakeo, son blong Tom Bakeo we hemi wan British District Agent (BDA) mo confirm se hemi no bin aware long meeting blong ol Chief long 1975 we oli faenem se OC family oli land owner blong Nesingwar, mekem se hemi preparem Deed of Conveyance blong givim graon long Celine. Sam years I pass hemi faenem document ia long Vila mo hemi regret mo sapraes how ol olfala blong taem ia oli hidim information ia long hem.

OC Long wokabot long graon, OC hemi soem kot long boundary map istat long Stone blong Rurule long River long Masakin River. Then hemi soem nasara blong Parmaras wetem ol grave we ol olfala I talem se hemi blong ol man Nesingwar. Hemi tekem court I igo kasem narasara blong Ulili we every party se oli harem mo agree se nasara blong Oulili, brata blong Serenmal. Then hemi tekem kot igo antap bitim area blong Lelevanu mo soem last mark blong Nesingwar long Western side kolosap fence blong buluk blong Gracien.

3.2 Claim blong Counter Claimant 1 (CC1) – Family Martin Lales

Jameson Morgoror hemi spokesman blong family Martin Lales hemi claim se family line blong hem ikamaot long wan rope plant we oli kolem long language womel we hemi totem blong family tribe. Hemi claim se family blong hem hemi origin long Navav graon. Plant ia I karem 2 fruit mo taem tufala I ripe mo foltaon, wan I karem wan man mo wan I kamaot woman, tufala live olsem couple mo karem 10 pikinini, 5 boy mo 5 gel. Ol boy nem blong olgeta igat Matanal, Binbin, Tabun, Matan mo Bel.

Binbin mo Tabun tufala I bigwan tufala I move igo antap lo hill mo settle long Limla, tufala I mekem namanki (pig killing ceremony blong attainem chiefly rank). Tabun ikam big chief/big fire mo Binbin hemi smol fire blong hem.

Tabun I move wetem family blong hem igo live long Tanmeliv, Matanal I become paramount chief blong Navav. Miten we hemi grandson blong Binbin hemi come second fire or assistant chief blong Navav. Long ples ia nao hemi formem station blong Nesingwar wetem nakamal blong Lockrevrev. Miten I performem first Nambangi blong hem long Newingwar mo formem nasara Jarmatsu.

CC1 I claim se Jerenmal (Serenmal) hemi descendant blong Miten. Jerenmal hemi last surviving male long Nesingwar. Meltesaen hemi last surviving man long Luwus. Jerenmal mo Meltesaen I perfomem wan namangi lo Nasara blong Lebsor we I luk Meltesaen I adoptem boy blong Jenernmal we hemi Marcel mo Jerenmal I adoptem son blong hem Maltortor.

CC1 hemi claim se disputed ground we OC I callem Nesingwar, hemi part blong bigfala boundary blong custom graon we nem blong hem Swety. Meaning blong Swety hemi blong “fasem tuketa” (ol piece graon we oli separate).

Swety igat wan single tribe we I rule long plesia bifo ikam, inomo gat man we I live long graon ia before oli go live long hem. Inomo gat wan surviving blood blong Nesingwar except ol surviving descendant blong Miten blong Nesingwar mo Luwus, wan tribe blo Limla. Papa blong Celine we hemi Jerenmal hemi descendant blong Miten.

CC1 I claim wan bigfala boundary we I start antap long bush kasem solwota mo I kavremap boundary map blong OC.

CC1 ise blong pruvum claim blong olgeta, Meltesaen Lales mo Chire blong Talmeliv oli bin providem 100 yam long death blong Jerenmal; mo taem Jerenmal I tet, Meltesaen nao I bin performem custom blong enablem fight back from life blong Jerenmal wetem ol man Vao.

Igat sam man olsem Edwin Guirock mo Terter I askem permission long Meltesaen blong katem tamtam blong tufala long graon blong Nesingwar.

3.3 Claim blong Counter Claimant 2 (CC2) – Family Saravanu

Spokesman blong family Saravanu hemi Gregy Saravanu mo hemi claim se wan Molili we chiefly name blong hem Maltevanu long Atchin hemi wan native blong nasara Tonas inside long Nesingwar. Hemi move igo long wan new place we nem blong hem Matonas we hemi minim mi kam long Tonas. Long Matonas hemi bin planem 2 breadfruit we hemi callem pecpec mo lepet. Then hemi migrate baken igo long Lavalsal (Atchin). Wan man Emelep I tekem hem igo long Atchin island mo givim wan piece graon long hem long Amelmarur, ples we hemi tet long hem mo oli berem hem long hem.

CC2 I claimem full boundary blong Nesingwar we OC I putum long map blong hem olsem part blong Tonas we hemi claim se hemi originate long hem.

Saravanu (CC2) emi claim se hemi laef blood blong nasara Tonas wei stap inside long boundry blo Nesingwar. Ancestor we CC2 I claim hemi Maltevanu we hemi ranaway long tribal war long Tonas igo down long solwota igo long family Putune long Emelep

CC2 I confirm lo land visit em tu I claim sem nasara Tonas we CC3 Ulric Meltvielser I claim. Nasara ia nem blong hem Toneh (we oli se hemi semak long Tonas) hemi wan company nasara from plante pipol I bildim custom rank long. Claimant Saravanu hem tu I claim wan stone long same nasara blong Toneh.

3.4 Claim blong Counterclaimant 3 CC (CC3) – Family Meltevielser

Ulrick Meltevielser hemi spokesman blong family Meltevielser, mo hemi talem se Namba hemi last man we I livim Nasara Tonas taem I bin gat tribal war. Taem ia ol narafala man we I live long Vengelo, Nahul, Patunmal mo Jerenmal olgeta nao oli stap yet long graon Nesingwar.

Nasara Tonas hemi big faea wea long time blong bifo, wan high chief I bin rulum ples ia. Meltevielser I bin ronwei long war mo igo hide long Lebou wetem Taiamas Malantungun. Malantungun hemi wan big faea tu we I settle long Norohure long Vao smol island. Sam yia I pas wan more fight I kerap wetem wan man Nesingwar long Meltegru mo wan man Natamb. Long taem ia, ol man Nesingwar oli go settle long nara area we oli formem nasara Sigon. Long ples ia igat 2 tribes we oli save long olgeta olsem Tartar, wan big faea blong Nebuel mo smol faea tribe hemi Meltenoven.

Nambagh I maretem Leklektua blong Melbarav tufala I bonem Relrel we I maretem widow blong Tutusinemal. Widow ia I gat bel finis taem hemi maretem hem bifo istap wetem Relrel. Boy we I bon oli putum nem blo hem Belbel, Belbel I maretem Leatpuni mo karem Meltevielser.

Jerenmal I maretem Lebulbul mo taem I tet, wan man nem blo Sin I tekem Lebulbul. Claimant ise around long time ia nao Meltevielser hemi stap hide stilim Lebulbul mekem Lebulbuel igat bel mo bonem Celine.

Claimant ise hem nao hemi chief blong Tonas mo Celine olsem wan woman hemi should stap under long authority blong hem from hemi biological pikinini blong Meltevielser.

Long wokbaot long graon, CC3 I shoem nasara Tone mo long we hemi claim se nasara ia I blong Nambagh we hemi papa blong Belbel, Belbel nao I bonem Meltevilser we hemi descendan blong hem. Taem fes nasara hemi kam smol from tribe I receivim plante more man we ikam long nasara, oli move igo lelepet mo setemap company nasara. Claimant is soem 6 stone blong nambangi long hem mo hemi talem se hemi wan company nasara we taem plante nara tribe oli receivim olgeta oli putum stone blong olgeta tu long hem.

Same nasara ia tu CC2 hemi claim se hem tu i part long hem olsem company nasara.

3.5 Claim blong Counter Claimant 4 (CC4) – Redison Meltek

Redison I presentem claim mo talemoat history blong olgeta se Tohares I maretem 2 woman, fes woman I blong Nalu long Vao island mo I karem boy ia Santo, Second woman blong hem hemi woman Matavu Bethehul long Vao island mo I karem 2 gel Levani mo Lemetan mo gat bel long Taon. Folem Tribal Wars, Toharis I decide bong go back putum family blong hem long smol island blong Vao wetem family blong wife from security reason.

Toharis igat custom relationship wetem husband blong big sister blong wife blong hem we hemi Meltehilgahe Mulontulara. Toharis I bin mekem sam promise se bae Meltehilgahe I luk afta tufala gel blong hem mo hemia we I stap long bel yet, sapos hemi bon boy bae hemi I lukaot ikam bigwan bae I putum hem igo long ples blong hem long Backloas. Bifo Taon I bon, Toharis I tekem rod igo bak long Backloas mo I go tet long we.

Folem promise blong Toharis mo Meltehilgale, Taon I grow wetem Talmare we I maretem bakeken mama blong hem. Taon I biwan mo maretem 2 woman, feswan I karem boy Redison mo second wan I karem boy Roberto.

Taon I bin claim bak raet blong papa blong hem lo Backlaos mo I bin standemap Namaki blong Backlaos long Venue Village blong preservem custom right ia.

Backlaos hemi igat 3 nasara; Jere olsem las faea, Lelevanu second faea mo Melnaru olsem fes faea.

Family Meltek I claim blong defendem boundary blong custom graon Backlaos. Claim se Backlaos custom ground hemi wan separate boundary long Nesingwar wetem own paramount chief blong hem.

3.6 Claim blong Counter Claimant 5 (CC5) - Roderick Tebatun

Spokesman blong family Tebatun hemi Roderick Tebatun mo hemi claim blong disputim wan overlap boundary blong Tondor we I kavaremap nasara blong Lesar Tongov. Edourd Tebatun Raken hemi wan native long Tondor we I kavaremap 8 nasara, wan long ol nasara ia hemi nasara Tongov we hemi blong Rurulei uncle blong Tebatun. Rurulei I bin performem namangi ceremony mo stanemap wan staon long nasara. Taem hemi ded oli berem hem long area kolosap long nasara.

Long 1971 oli decidem graon ia finis mo long 1976 bakeken British District Agent Mr. Wilkins I survey lo hem. Ol Claimant olsem family Malesy (Celine), Nicholas, Bani mo ol chief olsem Toni oli present mo witnesem land mark. Mo everyone I agree se mark istart long wan stone long river,we I linkim Larar bonbon long Oro Creek. Land mark ia istap semak ever since long taem ia kasem tede.

Tebatun ise hem nao I salem graon long OC family Meltenoven afta we ino save givim money Vt. 30,000 we family Meltenoven I givim blong pem woman long hem.

Long wokbaot blong graon, Roderick I tekem court igo showem ol stone blong nasara, nakamal mo grave blong Rurule.

Same ples ia OC hemi also claimem se papa blong hem I shoem boundary blong mark blong Nesingwar long wan Natapoa tree we I connect igo long stone blong Rurule long Palalua river. Long ples ia family Meltenoven I refer long hem olsem Parasmaras. Long area ia Meltenoven I shoem Parasmaras mo wan heap stone we hemi confirm se papa blong hem I talem se hemi wan nakamal be hemi no save se hemi blong who ia man. Heap blong ol stone ia Roderic Tebatun hemi no claimem be hemi talem se ples ia nao hemi salem/givim long OC family Meltenoven folem wan bride price money blong vt.30,000.

3.7 Claim blong Counter Claimants 6 (CC 6) – Family Malesy

Spokesman blong family Malesi hemi Philibert Malesy. Family ia istap claimem bloodline blong Nesingwar tru long wan man we nem blong hem Jerenmal we sam oli singaot Serenmal. Igat tufala brata wan nem blong hem Meltavartine mo wan nem blong Malrel. Metevaratin hemi paramount chief blong Nesingwar mo brata blong hem Malrel hemi hed chief blong smol faea. Meltevaratine hemi rule long nasara Jarmatsu, Bonsoak mo Libare; Malrel hemi lukaot long nasara Lelevanu, Tonas mo Matnaab.

Malrel I maretem Lelekatonual mo tufala I bonem Jerenmal mo Houlili. Houlili I ded long Atchin island long nasara Amelmarur, hemi no maret. Jerenmal hemi maretem Leatbacor (nara nem blong hem Lebulbule) mo tufala I bonem wan gel we hemi Lenimal we christan name blong hem hemi Celine mo wan boy nem blong hem Marcel. Marcel I tet taem hemi young, mo Celine nomo I surviving bloodline blong ples ia. Celine I mared igo long Rano mo Houlili nao I tekem payment blong hem.

High Chief Meltevaratine I maretem Leateteru mo tufala I bonem wan boy Lele we hem tu I ted long early age mekem se Meltevaratine I adoptem Henry Lambamou olsem pikinini blong hem wetem wan pig we igat tooth. Henry Lambamou I bin participate long last nambangi blong adoptem papa blong hem.

Jerenmal ino tet gud, ol man Vao oli shutum hem taem hemi fidim pig blong hem. Celine taem ia hemi gat 17 years blong hem, oli berem hem finis Celine wetem mama blong hem oli ronwei igo hide long Atchin wetem wan family Tetejer long nasara blong Amelmarur. Then long 1961 wan peace reconciliation ceremony I been tekem place between Celine mo ol man Vao from death blong papa blong hem blong allowem olgeta I wokbaot free bakeken.

Fes day blong wokbaot long graon, Philibert Malesi ino folem court long wokbaot long graon, witness blong hem Clement Rory hemi present mbe ino talem much about boundary blong Nesingwar we hemi winim long 2008.

Family I claim whole boundary blong Nesingwar olsem OC I claim.

Blong backemap claim blong hem, ol man ples ia oli always regardem Celine olsem last surviving blood blong custom graon Lesingwar, ol evidence I listed below:

Long 1964, 5 meeting I bin folfolem olgeta until long namba 24^th July 1964 hemia long Sowol, oli declarem Celine olsem tru land owner blong Nesingwar.

Long 22^nd July, 1993 wan decision oli mekem long Vao we oli pronouncem Henry Labamou we hemi adopted son blong Meltevaratine folem right we Houlili I givim from ownership blo Nesingwar long Henry Labamou.

Long 24^th October, 1994 long wan meeting blong boundary blong Nesingwar from igat raorao over long ol boundaries, resolution igo back long Celine se ol man we hemi givimaot graon long olgeta oli mas listen long Celine.

Long 9^th October, 1978 wan Deed of Conveyance I sign between Celine olsem Vendor mo custom owner and Zacharie mo family we hemi Original Claimant long matter ia.

Long 30^th December 1963 Celine I salem 52 hectares blong graon igo long family Rory blong Vao.

Long 27^th October 1970, Igat ol nara 10 Deed of Conveyance we Celine I signem blong ol nara man we I pem graon long Nesingwar.

3.8 Claim blong Counter Claimant 7 (CC7) – Family Balbal

Spokesman blong Family Balbal hemi Alain Atpatun. Family Balbal I claim boundary blong Mabuh inside long boundary blong Nesingwar.

Long 2008 court, history blong hem igo olsem: Igat 4 fala brata oli live long area blong Navav. Ol brata ia oli bin stap trade wetem ol pig killing ceremony mo nara social activity. Then Tetersingo blong Botnanghal I bin part long wan pig killing ceremony blong high chief Meltevaratine. Long ceremony ia Tetersingo I karem nem ia Meltesingsing. Then wan piece graon oli givim long hem we I kavaremap area blong Labar olsem reward from bigfala help blong hem igo long nambangi ceremony blong Meltevaratine.

Atpatun I bin participate long last nambangi ceremony blong Nesingwar, hemi karem chiefly title ia Wututlei. Folem ceremony ia oli givim wan parcel blong graon long hem, part blong graon ia hemi bin salem long sam man, wan long olgeta hemi Melterongrong Charley.

Claimant I claim nasara blong Mabuh we long taem blong wokabot long graon long 2023, Kot hemi witnesem se hemi nasara Mabur hemi semak nasara we oli refer long hem olsem Sarmatsu . Long ples ia Balbal I soem wan stone we I stanap mo I lukluk igo long Navav we hemi claim se history blong hem istart long ples ia. Balbal hemi shoem wan settlement blong ol olfala narasaed long bigfala nasara.

3.9 Claim blong Counter Claimant 8 (CC8) – Family Maltaus

Spokesman blong family Maltaus hemi Richard Maltaus.

CC 8 family oli claimem area we oli kolem Tonas. Multonas hemi wan high chief blong big fire. Son blong hem Namir hemi move igo settle long Atchin long nasara blong Amelmarur mo mekem fren wetem wan Tetejer. Oli givim wan plot graon long hem nem blong hem Waru we hemi live long hem mo hemi maretem wan woman Emeleb. Then oli givim wan moa pis graon long hem where hemi mekem nasara Tawolrior we pasis blong hem hemi Tansup.

Hemi bonem Naror, Naror I bonem Meltelili, mo Meltelili I bonem Malror. Malror I performem last namangi blong hem long Amelmarur. Wan descendant blong family line nem blong hem Lelekaun, narafala nem blong hem Georgette we hemi maretem chief Raymond Etienne Maltaus blong Vao. Family I biliv oli gat raet long blong ownership long area blong Tonas through long blood blong woman (matrilineal)

Oli claim se Nesingwar Custom boundary hemi outside long Tonas mo Betermarur. Tonas hemi big fire mo Nesingwar hemi smol fire mo long custom governance, Nesingwar ino save take over right blong Big Faea long Tonas blong salem graon we hemi Malroror papa blong Georgette Maltaus. Family Malesi olsem ol previous courts oli fanem hem owner blong Nesingwar hemi bin salem plante graon long Tonas.

Claimant Richard ino folem court long fes day blong wokbaot long graon.

3.9 Claim blong Counter Claimant 9 (CC9) – Family Nale

Spokesman blong family family Nale hemi Redison Chire mo Meltesaen Tino. Long first hearing blong matter ia long 2008, Nale I claim tugeta wetem CC1 family Lales Limla olsem CC1, long this court, Nale we I claim right blong Meltesaen hemi stanap hemwan.

Family Nale I claim right blong adoption blong man ia Meltesaen.

Vivis Severte I gat 3 boy Miten, Matan mo Bel. Visvis I seraot ol boy blong hem igo long difren fire, mekem se hemi putum last bon hem Bel long narasaet creek. Bel I putum station blong hem Tonas.

Tonas I kam smol fire blong Netsingwar. Bel I bonem Nalip we I tekem woman Pinalum nem blong hem Lebatun nao tufala I bonem Multonanas, Multonas I bonem Meltevanu.

Folem Tribal war I mekem Maltevanu I aot long Tonnas I move Kasem Netjar Navun nao I muv igo long smol island. Nao hemi go stret long Malmarur.

Teterjer nao risivim hem. Maltevanu I stap wetem Tertejer nao I givim melnamol blong hem nao I mekem nakamal blong hem.

Taem ol man Vao I shutum Serenmal I ded, Meltesaen I tekem wife blong Serenmal Lebolul mo tufla pikininni blong Sereman Marcel mo Celine oli go stap long Atchin island hemia long Melmarur, oli stap wetem Nale.

Marcel I ded I nogat pikinini. So taem woman blong Nale nem blong hem Rebecca I gat bel, Meltesaen I blokem pikinini ia finis se sapos I bon wan boy bae hemi tekemaot igo tekem ples blong Marcel. Taem pikinini ia I bon hemi nao Meltesaen I tekemaot/adotpem hem wetem ol custom ceremony ia:

Hemi mekem kakae long 5 days blong Pierrot taem hemi born. Then hemi mekem 10 days bakeken taem hemi born. Pierrot I bigwan, Meltesaen oli mekem circumcise blong hem. Taem hemi kam man, Meltesaen I mekem custom long uncle blong hem long wan pig pekes. Then hemi pemaot Pierrot Nale wetem wan pig Naru.

Meltesaen I tekemaot Pierrot igo bak long Nesingwar from inomogat man. Meltesaen I mas tekem bak man Tonas blong go stap long Nesingwar from tufala I same blood brata mo Nesingwar nao I breedim Tonnas.

Blong supportem claim blong hem, CC 8 I talem se Ol man Tonnas mo Nesingwar oli kam long Atchin Melmaru, taem oli ded family Meltesaen olgeta nao I berem olgeta long eria blong olgeta. Ol man Melparav oli wantem katem wud blong katem tamtam blong olgeta, oli askem long Meltasaen mo Nale long momak long Tonas area.

Adoption blong Pierrot we igo back tekem ples blong Marcel pikinini blong Serenmal we I last man Nesingwar we I soem se Nesignwar mo Tonnas tufala I brata mo wan blood nomo.

Long wokabaot long graon, family Nale I some wan creek kolosap stone blong Rurule lo claim blong Tepatun. Creek ia hemi claim se hemi boundary mark we I seperetem Nesingwar mo Tongov. Then as court I move igo antap lo hill, CC 9 I showem wan settlement blong ol bubu blong olgeta we oli claim se oli kam transit long hem before oli aot bakeken. Stone structure blong hem hemi olsem wan nakamal be inogat nasara kolosap.

Family Nale I agree long nasara blong Oulili antap mo nasara blong Serenmal hemia long Nesignwar. Olfala papa blong Lales I singsing lo sam custom singsing we i provum se Serenmal taem blong kilim pig blong hem, hemi kilim 200 pig, oli fasem ol pig gogo ino finis, next day oli jas complitim.

Kot hemi also witnesem ol kakao plantation blong family Meltesaen we oli occupyem mo wok long graon kasem tede long area blong Tonas.

Long last day blong wokbaot (August 2023), Claimant I bin tekem court igo long Nasara blong Tonas we court hemi witnesem wan bigfala nasara long ples ia. Structure blong hem I semak olsem nasara Sarmatsu we kot I witnesem long wokabout blong July 2023. Claimant shoem naraside long nasara wan stone bowl we hemi se ples blong nakamal mo naraside wan ples blong kakae man.

Claimant ise nasara ia hemi blong Mul or Multonas. Igat 4 generation we I originate long Navav, igat Miten, Nalip, Tebaru mo Betermaru.

Custom road long ples ia we nem blong hem hemi staltemas (rod blo tevel)

3.9 Claim blong Counter Claimant 10 (CC10) – Family Rale Meltekripot

Spokesman blong family Rale hemi Philip Rale mo hemi talem se hemi origin long Are nasara, hemi go settle long Vetliv. Fesman we hemi aot long Are nasara hemi Belrech, hem nao I aot long Are igo live long Vetliv. Long Petersager, Belrech hemi gat 4 pikinini boy, igat Jourjour, Soure, Rimen mo Lelo.

Family tree blong Rale I start wetem Belrech we hemi bonem Jourjour, Jourjour I bonem Seware, Seware I bonem Nawobkal. Nawobkal I bonem Nigen, Nigen bonem Andre, Andre I bonem Maurice, Maurice I bonem Hienson we hemi 8 generation everyone.

Philip Rale I kamaot long generation blong Nigen we I gat 5 pikinini, 3 boy mo wan 2 gel. 3 boy ia igat Handre, Moise mo Philip, 2fala gel igat Marie Therese mo Annies.

Rale I talemaot se wan man Atchin nem blong hem August Meltek hemi maretem woman Vao.

Ol man Vao I fraet tumas long custom blong Nesingwar from bae I kilim olgeta. Mekem se wan day August Meltek I toktok long wan clever, nao Clever ia I sendem August blong igo luk Meltekripot blong I arrangem wan kava reconciliation ceremony between hem (Meltek August) wetem ol man Vao. Clever ia ise bae yu wetem Tokvanu I mas kakae kava blong klosem faet.

Fes kava reconciliation meeting I tekem place long Nevav, long taem ia ol man Beter ikam. Second pis reconciliation I tekem place long Beter we Tokvanu mo ol manbus oli joen . Namba tri peace reconciliation I tekem ples long Vao smol aelan Tokvanu nasara.

Later pupu Meltek I talemaot pis reconciliation ia long Lenimal (Celine) se bubu se relationship wetem Tokvanu I stret finis folem ceremony we pupu Meltek I mekem. Nao Celine i asurim hem se bae hemi givim wan piece graon long hem. From hemi olfala finis, hemi sendem Pierot Nale mo Martin Lales we tufala adopted son blong hem blong I katem pis graon blong hem. Tufala I katem 16 hectare land mo givim long hem. Folem custom respect ia, oli putum nem blo pis graon ia se Dan Malorgk (graon blo kava). Claimant I askem blong kot I givim graon blong Nesingwar long hem.

4. ASSESSMENT BLONG OL EVIDENCE WETEM CUSTOM BLONG PLES
   

4.1 Evidence blong Original Claimant (OC) Family Meltenoven

OC hemi claim Kot hemi considerem claim blong OC se Celine blong hemi biological pikinini blong Meltevielser, mifala weighem evidence ia se hemi no heavy mo decide blong rejectem from 7 out long 10 counter claimant (includim CC6 – family Malesy) oli disputim evidence ia.

Kot hemi gat doubt long boundary mark blong stampa natapoa mo nasara we OC hemi shoem lo Kot we I stap kolosap boarder blong Tongov. Hemia from se long custom wan nakamal bae hem ino save stap stret long boarder wetem wan nara graon from security reason. Mo tu bae hemi no possible blong nasara Tongov wetem Paramaras bae I exist kolosap tugeta long custom.

Kot hemi also satisfy se piece graon we OC stap work long hem long area ia we hemi claim nasara Paramaras long hem hemi wan graon we family Eduard Tepatun I givim long hem folem wan Vt.30,000 blong pem woman blong Eduard we hemi no save refundem.

Kot however, I rejectem claim we family Malesy I claim se OC I pem graon long hem lo Nesingwar. Mifala I wokbaot long graon mo OC I askem blong oli shoem graon we family Malessi I claim se OC I pem, inogat ansa. Court I satisfy se inogat graon anywhwere long Nesingwar we OC I pem, from nogat man I soem any taem OC hemi demandem.

Mifala I I notem/bilivim evidence blong Remi Meltenoven se we I confirm se after long meeting blong ol chief long 1980 we oli faenem se graon Lesingwar hemi blong family Meltenoven, hem wetem papa blong hem tufala I karem 500 pound (vt.100,000) igo givim long Celine blong talem thank you lo hem from hemi lukaot Nesingwar graon longtaem ikam.

Spokesman blong family Malesy long kot hemi confirm receipt blong money ia be hemi denyem se hemi wan thank you money igo long Celine.

Kot hemi also notem statement blong OC we hemi se hemi putum claim ia blong Kot I faenem stret owner blong hem from igat tumas raorao from.

4.2 Evidence blong CC1 (Family Meltesaen Lales) mo CC9 (Family Pierot Nale) – Tufala Claimant i confirm long cross examination se Meltesaen hemi man Limla. Limla hemi wan difren custom boundary we I stap inland towards Northwest Malekula.

History blong hem hemi se Meltesaen blong Limla I mekem brata wetem Meltevaratin blong Nesingwar from tufala I maretem two sister. Serenmal hemi last man Nesingwar, boy blong hem Marcel hemi tet inogat pikinini mekem se Meltesaen hemi adoptem Pierot Nale mo Martin Lales blong wokbaot long land blong hem Nesingwar.

Martin Lales I claim adoption long bloodline based long custom history se hemi kam long descendant blong Miten we hemi man Limla mo ikam long Nesingwar folem ordination blong paramount chief blong Nevav we hemi hed blong man Sweti. However, court ino satisfy se Miten hemi blood related ikam long Nesingwar, hemi blong Tanmeliv we hemi wan different custom boundary.

Kot hemi rely long custom law blong Nesingwar we hemi talem se right blong adoption blong ownem graon hemi limited long bloodline conection. Mifala I aplaem law ia long adoption blong Meltesaen long Martin Lales mo Pierot Nale hemi no save apply long ples ia taem we Meltesaen hemi no blood related long Meltevaratin. Meltesaen hemi man Limla mo hemi no blood related long Meltervaratin blong Nesingwar. Any adoption blong Meltesaen bae hemi igo back long Limla be hemi wrong long custom blong I kam long Nesingwar blong rule long hem.

Even sapos ibin gat sam legitimate custom ceremony I fasem relationship ia, court hemi no biliv se hemi proper long custom blong wan man difren ples I mekem wan adoption mo igo putum long wan difren custom graon we hemi nogat right long hem especially taem igat laef blood long graon ia istap.

Court hemi satisfy se CC9 - Nale hem tu ipem graon long Celine mo hem tu I stap work long graon tede.

Nasara Tonas: Kot hemi bilivim nasara we tufala claimant I soem se hemi nasara Tonas from setting blong hem hemi bigwan mo I semak long nasara blong Sarmatju, even ol setting blong stone I fesem direction blong Sarmatsu we Kot I biliv se tufala nasara I related or tufala i blong long same tribe of people.

Kot hemi also bilivim ol nara custom storian, custom sites mo custom singsing we tufala party I presentem olsem history blong custom graon Nesingwar mo specifically Tonas mo Sarmatsu long time blong wokbaot long graon. Court I biliv se hemi mekem sense se taem last man we I leko Nesingwar, common sense I talem se ol neighbouring boundaries we oli life istap olsem Navav, Backloas, Tanmeliv mo Limla bae oli invadem ples we inomo gat man long hem, oli live mo dwel long hem mo olgeta nao bae oli save more custom storian mo custom blong ples tru aot long ol decades we ol stret man ples oli nomo stap.

However, court hemi no establishim any custom rule we I talem se man we I invadem wan custom graon hemi save ownem graon ia sapos life blood inomogat.

Long kes ia, every party I agree mo inogat dispute se last surviving man blong Nesingwar hemi Serenmal mo life blood blong hem I laef long wan wan woman.

4.3 Evidence blong CC2 -FamilySaravanu

Apart long claim blong wan stone long company nasara long Toneh, Saravanu hemi mentionem mo askem court blong visitim ol proof blong claim blong hem we oli stap long smol island blong Atchin long nasara blong Emelmarur we hemi claim se hemi receivim ol man Nesignwar we I ronwei long tribal war igo long smol island.

CC2 hemi claim bubu blong hem nao I receivim Ulili (brata blong Serenmal) long Melmarurur mo taem hemi tet oli berem hem long Melmarurur. Mo taem oli shutum last man Nesingwar Serenmal, woman blong hem wetem gel blong hem Lenimal ironwe igo long smol island oli go kamaot blong hide bakeken long Melmarur wetem pupu blong CC2.

Court I tekem gud note ol documented evidence blong Emelmarur mbe wetem request blong go visitim custom sites long Atchin smol island, court hemi choose blong ino visitim ol custom site outside long disputed graon Nesingwar. Court hemi understand se nasara Emelmarur tu istap long dispute therefore hemi no proper blong court igo wokbaot long wan nara disputed land blong mekem decision long hem.

Long present time, family Saravanu tu I wok long part blong Nesingwar graon mo spokesman Gregy I confirm long time blong wokbaot se hemi pem groan blong CC 5 Family Tebatun.

4.4 Evidence blong CC3 – Family Ulrich Meltevielser. Claimant Ulrich Melteviersel i claim hem stret man Toneh nasara blong hem I big fire inside long Nesingwar. Taem fes nasara hemi kam smol as tribe I receivim more man we ikam long nasara, oli move igo lelepet mo setemap company nasara igat 6 stone blong namangi long hem mo hemi talem se hemi wan company nasara we taem plante nara tribe oli receivim olgeta oli putum stone blong olgeta tu long hem.

Court I assesem evidence blong ol custom sites mo ol storian blong ples, hemi convince se nasara Toneh hemi wan difren mo separate nasara long Tonas nasara from hemi witnesem 2 different nasara. Therefore, Toneh hemi wan different nasara mo settlement mo Tonas hemi seperet nasara wetem settlement blong hem.

Same nasara ia CC2 Saranvanu tu hemi claim se hem tu i igat wan stone inside long nasara ia olsem company nasara.

4.5 Evidence blong CC4 – Family Redison Meltek: Claimant Redision hemi claim graon Lelevanu mo I claim se hemi part blong custom graon Backloas. Long evidence we court hemi witnessem long site visit, Claimant Redision hemi no provum long court wan nasara we bae hemi convincim court se hemi wan separate graon.

Evidence blong ol narafala party putum taon evidence long claimant Redision se boundary blong Nesingwar hemi go kasem fence blong Gracia. Antap long hemia court hemi no biliv se settlement blong Oulili bae hemi stap long kolosap tumas long boundary mak blong custom graon Nesingwar. Ol settlement we Redison hemi soem long court hemi mas part blong settlement blong Oulili mo hemi part blong ol graon we Celine hemi salem long ol man.

4.6 Evidence blong CC5 – Family Tebatun Edward: Court hemi satisfy se Edward Tebatun hemi defendem boundary blong Tontor, Tontor custom land hemi stap outside long Nesingwar custom graon. Court hemi also satisfy long boundary mark blong Tebatun se hemi stret boundary mark we I seperetem Tontor mo Nesingwar.

Court hemi satisfy se graon we OC hemi work long hem hemi part blong Tontor custom graon mo Tebatun nao I givim long OC blong replacem vt.30,000 we family Tebatun I borrowem blong pem woman long hem.

4.7 Evidence blong CC6 – Family Malesi: Meltevaratin blong Nesingwar, hemi gat wan boy nem blong hem Lele, Lele I tet ino gat pikinini so Meltevaratin hemi adoptem Henry Lambamou. Hemi tekem Henry igo long Nesingwar I mekem custom business olsem circumcise blong hem long Bonsok. Then hemi kilim haos long Nesingwar mo hemi tekem nem ia Testesum. Henry hemi kilim las namanki long Nesingwar mo hemi tekem nem ia Lambamou.

Kot hemi satisfy long taem blong wokabaot witness blong CC6, Rory I showem stone blong namangi blong hem long area Sarmatju we plante oli refer long hem se Nesignwar.

Kot hemi satisfy se adoption blong Henry hemi folem custom, from ol custom activities we hem I pefomem blong hemi tekem ples blo Meltevaratin wetem Serenmal blong Nesingwar.

First adoption hemi blong Henry Lambamou. CC6 Family Serenmal I givim long evidence blong hem se Meltevaratine we hemi brata blong Malrel hemi maretem Leateteru mo bonem Lele. Lele I tet, Meltevaratin I adoptem Henry. Hemi pem Henry wetem wan pig tooth I fas mo hemi performem customary ceremony blong hem taem hemi circumcise long Nesingwar, kilim haos mo hemi putum nem blong hem Tetesu, hemi kilim las namangi long Nesingwar mo tekem custom nem Lambamou.

Oulili brata blong Serenmal I givim full right igo long Henry. Long ol submission blong CC6, Claimant hemi clarify se Henry Lambamou nao I stap representem nasara Nesingwar long every custom ceremony folem custom adoption blong replacem blood blong Serenmal mo Meltevaratin. Henry hemi man figure we I representem bloodline blong high chief blong Nesingwar graon. Court hemi satisfy se even though Henry hemi no claim, hemi man behind long claim blong Family Malesy.

Kot I satisfae l folem established custom law blong Nesingwar se adoption hemi wan recognized custom adoption mo long custom blong Nesingwar man I save claimem graon tru long adoption

4.8 Evidence blong CC7 – Family Balbal Evidence blong family Balbal hemi change since fes hearing long 2008. Evidence blong 2008 I shoem se family Balbal I come part blong Nesingwar taem we wan man Tetersingo blong Botnanghal I bin part long wan pig killing ceremony blong high chief Meltevaratine. Long ceremony ia Tetersingo I karem nem ia Meltesingsing. Then wan piece graon oli givim long hem we I kavaremap area blong Labar olsem reward from bigfala help blong hem igo long namangi ceremony blong Meltevaratin.

Long second hearing blong Nesingwar long 2023, Balbal I claim Mabuh inside Nesingwar olsem wan big fire wetem wan structure we blong nakamal nem blong hem Lock revrev.

Long second day blong wokabaot Balbal I shoem wan stone long bigfala nasara we majority blong ol claimant I agree se hemi nasara blong Serenmal mo Meltevaratine, Sarmjatsun.

Court hemi notem se nasara “Mabuh” hemi nem blong wan yam mo tabu nakamal blong hem nem blong hem “Lockrevrev” we I minim laplap yam. Court hemi doubtem se Mabur hemi nem blong bigfala nasara we court igo witnesem. Antap long hemia claimant Balbal long taem blong wokabaot hemi no soem wan nasara or nakamal we hemi tokbaot long claim blong hem. Hemi soem stone nomo we court hemi bilivim strong se hemi stone blong Tertersingi/Meltesingsing we I performem custom long time blong namangi blong Meltevaratin.

Wetem ol evidence ia Court hemi recognisem claimant Balbal olsem wan user blong ground folem custom we I help blong mekem namangi blong Meltevaratine.

4.9 Evidence blong CC8 – Family Maltaus – Claimant hemi claim se hemi man Tonas however long time blong wokabaot, hemi no shoem wan custom identity blong hem we I linkim hem long nasara Tonas.

Court I notem tu se Maltaus I pem graon long Celine Malesi olsem we hemi confirm long court.

Evidence hemi suggestem se claimant Maltaus hemi karem right blong user long graon we hemi pem long Nesingwar.

4.10 Evidence blong CC10 – Family Philip Rale Claimant is defendem area we hemi kolem Danmalop we hemi comprise 16 hectore blong graon we hemi confirm se oli givim long hem from hemi organsisem peace ceremony blong death blong Serenmal. Evidence ia I confirm long court se Family Rale hemi karem right blong usim graon long Nesingwar.

5. CONCLUDING REMARKS

Constitution hemi mama law we I karem force over long every nara law blong Vanuatu. Protection blong custom ground hemi stap long mama law ia mo hemi specifically providem long Article 73 se graon long Vanuatu hemi belong long ol Indegenious man Vanuatu wetem ol descendant blong olgeta. Article 74 I hemi pointem out se rule blong kastom nao hemi fomem besis blong onasip mo use blong land long Republic blong Vanuatu.

Malekula island Court hemi mas sitaon bakeken namba 2 time blong re-harem land matter ia from ol claimer I claim se fes decision hemi no folem law blong custom graon long area blong Nesingwar custom graon. Wetem hemia long mind, court ia hemi focus specifically long custom law mo applem wetem ol claim we ikam blong mekem decision ia.

Court ia I wantem mekem I klia bakeken se folem Article 73 blong Constitution, every graon long Vanuatu hemi blong ol group blong ol people (Communal ownership) we oli kamaot long wan descendant or tribe blong pipol long wan area. Plante time igat misunderstanding mo misperseption se graon hemi blong wan man nomo (individual ownership), hemia hemi no reflectem spirit mo intention blong Constitution mo custom law blong difren areas long Vanuatu.

6. FINDINGS

6.1 Court hemi faenemaot mo acceptem follem storian blong ol claimant se Nesingwar hemi nem blong bigfala custom graon. Boundary blong hem hemi semak boundary we court blong 2008 I declarem. Court hemi confirm se hemi start long stone we CC5 I putum long palanua river, igo passem nagatabol tri long rod, igo long wan natapoa tree we table stone istap long hem, igo folem folem wan smol creek kasem bigfala creek blong Oro river, I folem igo long Mal, igo antap long Naleb Betehul, igo stret long Loue Siro kasem creek we I dividem Navav mo Nesingwar, ikamaot long Tavo Tavao, I folem stret igo long plantation blong Gracia ikam mo ikam bak taon long river Palanua river kasem stone we I makem boundary blong Tontor.

6.2 Court I faenem se Lelenvanu hemi part blong Nesingwar graon we ol settlement blong man Nesingwar istap long hem.

6.3 Court I faenem se Nesingwar hemi bigfala boundary we inside igat ol nasara Sarmatsu, nasara Tonas mo nasara Toneh wetem plante ol olfala nakamal mo settlement.

6.4 Court I faenem se Nasara Sarmatsu I laef tru long wan woman mo wan adoption, nasara Tonas inogat laef blood long hem mo inogat wan valid adoption.

6.5 Court I faenem se Nasara Sarmatsu I big fire, nasara Toneh hemi smol fire. Nasara Tonas we inogat laef blood long hem, bae big fire Sarmatsu bae hemi lukaotem or governem nasara Tones.

6.6 Court I faenem se Limla hemi no part blong custom boundary blong Nesingwar, hemi wan separate custom boundary wetem own custom blong hem.

6.6 Court hemi faenem se adoption blong Harry Lambamou hemi stret folem custom practice blong adoptem wan pikinini ikam long wan nasara folem origin blong Meltevartin brata blong Malrel (papa blong Serenmal). Meltevartin hemi man Nesingwar mo folem custom hemi save mekem wan adoption blong replacem blood blong man Nesingwar.

6.7 Court hemi faenem se Henry Lambamou hemi nao I stret man folem custom behind claim blong family Malesi.

6.8 Court I faenem se adoption blong Martin Lales mo Pierrot Nale tufala ino valid custom adoption folem custom blong Nesingwar from Meltesaen hemi no blong Limla hemi nogat right blong adoptem pikinini blong putum ikam long Nesingwar wan difren custom boundary.

6.9 Court I faenem mo recognisem ol claimant we oli pem graon mo sam i performem sam custom ceremony blong karem interest long custom graon blong Nesingwar.

6.9 Court I faenem se Family Edward Tebatun hemi tekem bak boundary blong hem olsem we hemi kam blong defendem.

7. DECLARATION
   

7.1 Henry Lambamu wetem ol descendant blong oli tekem ownership right blong Sarmatsu nasara mo Tonas nasara we tufala I stap long boundary blong Nesignwar custom graon long behalf blong Celine Lenimal Serenmal olsem big fire blong Nesingwar.

7.2 Ulrich Meltevielser wetem ol descendants blong oli tekem ownership right long nasara Toneh olsem smol fire inside long Nesingwar.

7.3 Ol nara claimer we I includim Family Meltenoven, Family Meltesaen Lales, Family Saravanu, Family Nale Pierro, Family Balbal, Family Maltus mo Family Philip Rale we oli pem graon mo we oli performem difren custom ceremony blong tekem right blong usum graon long Nesingwar, oli tekem user right long graon blong Nesingwar.

DATED at Lakatoro this 11th day August, 2023.

BY THE COURT

........................................ Hannaline Nalau Ilo Senior Magistrate	..................................... Justice Douglas Fatdal Malekula Island Court
........................................ Justice Joses Lingi Malekula Island Court	..................................... Justice Patison Peter Malekula Island Court