Tuesday 3 March 2026 – Prime Minister Hon. Jeremiah Manele tonight attended the Lantern Festival celebration and Chinatown Police Post-handover at Chung Wah School Hall.
The event brought together Ministers of the Crown, Members of Parliament, the Mayor of Honiara City, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, senior officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), representatives of the Solomon Islands Chinese Association (SICA), business houses and members of the Chinese community.
In his remarks, the Prime Minister described the occasion as a meaningful convergence of culture and community security.
The Lantern Festival, observed on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, symbolises unity, harmony and hope for prosperity. He acknowledged the organisers for aligning the cultural celebration with the formal handover of the new police post.
“As lanterns are lit to symbolise hope and a bright future, we also light this new police post as a permanent beacon of security in Chinatown,” he said.
Honiara’s Chinatown, established more than 60 years ago, remains a central and historically significant commercial district in the capital and continues to play an important role in economic development.
While the area has experienced challenges during periods of civil unrest and natural disasters, he noted that the resilience of business houses and the wider Chinese community has ensured its rebuilding and modernisation while preserving its identity.
The Prime Minister conveyed the Government’s sincere appreciation to SICA for constructing the new police post in support of law and order. The facility will strengthen the operational presence and responsiveness of the RSIPF in Chinatown and surrounding communities.
He further noted that the Office of the Prime Minister maintains a physical office within Chinatown, reaffirming the Government’s ongoing commitment to stability, security and economic vitality in the area.
The event was hosted at Chung Wah School, one of the country’s oldest private educational institutions. Established in 1949 and managed by SICA, the school has contributed to Solomon Islands’ education sector for more than seven decades.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed that strong community partnership, cooperation with law enforcement and respect for cultural diversity remain essential to maintaining peace, harmony and national unity.
