Micronesian Counselor, Issue 52

Hezel, Francis X. (2004-09-28). Micronesian Counselor, Issue 52. Micronesian Counselor (Report). Kolonia, Pohnpei: Micronesian Seminar. pp. 1–8.

• Has attachment: File:UGQMEQT5.pdf

Abstract: The lead article, Do We Really Need Land Registration?, by Francis X. Hezel, S.J., examines debates over formalizing land titles in the Marshall Islands. Based on fieldwork in Majuro, it describes the deep cultural sensitivity surrounding land and the widespread reluctance to codify ownership through legal registration. The essay argues that land, once the basis for subsistence security, has become even more contested as populations grow and development pressures mount.

Additional sections recount local perspectives from Pohnpei and Chuuk on land inheritance, reflections from judges in Kosrae and Yap on balancing tradition with statutory law, and broader comparisons with Pacific island societies. The issue also includes anecdotal commentary on the challenges faced by outside consultants, highlighting how technical land reform projects often collide with entrenched social values.