BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
PEACE, stability, national unity, and happy co-existence will remain issues for the Solomon Islands, however, we must try our very best to stay united. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said at his keynote address to mark Solomon Islands 44th Independence Day thanksgiving ceremony at Maranatha Hall, East Honiara on Thursday.
Sogavare said difficult times are coming, and the question is whether Solomon Islanders can learn from to correct our past challenges, differences, and failures to improve.
“There are failures and there are success stories Solomon Islanders can learn from to correct our failures and improve and do better on our successes.
“I call on all Solomon Islanders to take the opportunity in the 44th anniversary of our experience as a nation to take a hard look at our own and align ourselves with the ideals of ‘Iumi Together’ for a stronger and peaceful Solomon Islands.
“The strengths to move the Solomon Islands forward lies in the vast experiences we have gained in the past 44 years,” he said.
Solomon Islands yesterday celebrated its 44th Independence under the theme ‘Iumi Together for a Stronger and Peaceful Solomon Islands’.
He said looking back after more than 4 decades of Solomon Islands’ political journey, we have everything to thank God for.
“This is where I believe we can seek God’s hands in some of the dark happenings in our country. That is why as Christians we are encouraged to look at the positive side of everything that happened in our country.
“Christians, this gathering is called probably called a ‘thanksgiving gathering’ because that is what we are here to do.
“We owe our very existence, we owe very survival as a nation enabling us to make it this far. We have a Christian duty to acknowledge these kind hands with who led us to come this far to stand and established as a nation.”
