Peace must be maintained in SI: student speech contestants

By Moffat Mamu

Peace is an essence to allow development and prosperity in Solomon Islands and it must be maintained.

Eleven contestants at the National Speech Contest yesterday at the King George Sixth School made this remark on the topic “Peace Process and how to maintain it”. Most of the 11 contestants said Solomon Islands has gone through its bad patches and therefore should learn from such bad experiences.

They told the packed King George Sixth assembly hall that Solomon Islands needs peace in order to develop economically and socially. “Without peace there won’t be development in the country because investors would not want to come to the country and there would be job losses and in the end economy would be affected,” a contestant said. The contestant added that peace must be maintained in the country to allow people to live in peace and harmony with each other.

All 11 cited the ethnic tension and the April riots as two of the saddest events that happened in the history of Solomon Islands. One student echoed that Solomon Islanders should start learning from such mistakes and learn to respect each other in whatever things we do and where we live. “Peace must start at the home to allow children to learn how to respect and be kind to others,” the student said.

Students from Bishop Epalle, Betikama, Florence Young, Panatina, St Nicholas, Selwyn College, King George and Tenakoga were represented at the contest.

The other topic discussed by the contestants was Women in leadership. Marijanka Joshua came first in the senior category and a student from Tenakoga was first in the junior category. The prizes were sponsored by RAMSI. A representative from RAMSI who attended the occasion spoke highly of the students and the issues they raised during the three hours session.

Source: Solomon Star