Solomon 28th Independence to be celebrated by students in Fiji

While the Solomon Islands Government through an Organizing Committee is preparing to celebrate the country's 28th Birthday of self-rule and sovereignty in Honiara, the Solomon Islands students at various institutions in Fiji and other working country folks will also celebrate the important day in Suva.

As a result the Solomon Islands Student Association (SISA) at the University of the South Pacific's Laucala Campus has appointed it's own organizing committee to oversee the weeklong celebrations. The SISA Organizing Committee is chaired by Mr James Porakari, a Postgraduate Physics student.

From thursday last week, there was a soccer and netball competition organized for the student body which lasted for four days and eventually ended with the semi-finals and grand-finals on Tuesday afternoon. The sporting event was coordinated by Mr Patterson Lusi, another postgraduate student in Education.

Last night, the students were hosted to an educational talk program where a panel of four speakers were each given 10-15 minutes to share their personal perspectives on the nation's Independence theme "Creating a new and better Solomon Islands".

The first speaker was Mr Brian Lenga, a postgraduate student in Development Studies who spoke on the importance of micro-financing schemes and rural development. This was followed by a Master graduate in Chemistry, Mr Luke Mani, who spoke on how science can be utilized to create a new and better Solomon Islands. The third speaker was Mr Johnson Honimae, a well known Journalist, who suggested that the nation needs good leaders who have long term vision and those who are committed towards reconciliation processes, land resolution policies, and rural development initiatives. The last speaker was Mr Porakari, who spoke on the potential of renewable energy that our country can pursue to advance the Independence theme. A light refreshment was held after the program and various students that we interviewed told us that they have learnt alot from the educational talks.

Today will see cultural groups uniting to prepare for the feast that will take place tomorrow. Later in the evening, there will be a religous singing contest to show case the various individual extracurricular talents that our nation's educated cream possess.

At dawn tomorrow (Friday 07/07/06), the Solomon Islands' community in Suva will begin the day with a flag raising ceremony at the Laucala Campus. After that, there will be a brief church service where a guest speaker will be given an opportunity to share with the students. A feasting ceremony will start in the afternoon followed by cultural dances in the evening.

The Independence celebration has been an annual event for the students in Fiji, and it is expected that more than 600 Solomon Islanders and other Pacific Island friends will partake in tomorrow's Independence Celebration in Suva, Fiji.