Solomon Islands Celebrates 2008 Commonwealth Day

The Commonwealth Youth Programme – South Pacific Centre, based in Honiara Solomon Islands hosted the 2008 Commonwealth Day celebration on Monday 10 March 2008 at the CYP-SP compound in Panatina Campus. The celebration was jointly organised with the Ministry of Women, Youth and Children's Affairs and the Honiara City Council.

The programme would include a speech by the Honourable Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Honourable Dr Derek Sikua and the key note speech was be delivered by His Excellency the Governor General of the Solomon Islands, Sir Nathaniel Waena. The programme also included speeches from youth to ensure that there is a strong focus on youth and the need to engage young people in awareness raising on climate change and other pressing environmental issues.

According to the Regional Director of CYP SPC Ms Afu Billy, the theme of this year’s Commonwealth Day, ‘The Environment – our future’ has an added relevance to the Island states in the Pacific given its vulnerability, especially to climate change. The rising sea level, deforestation and general degradation of the small states environment makes it vital that we protect our environment against the degradation and destruction caused by human beings. A clean and safe environment enables us to lead healthy and productive lives.

The CYP South Pacific Centre is committed to work with governments and organisations to promote the need for protecting our environment and our world, which today’s youth will inherit in the future. Activities such as tree planting, music and entertainment has been organised for the whole day involving young people. This will ensure that young people are engaged in awareness raising on environmental issues.

The celebration will also saw the launching of the Commonwealth Young Solomon Islander of the Year Award by HE the Governor General of Solomon Islands, Sir N. Waena. The Commonwealth Young Solomon Islander of the Year award aims to create a prestigious award to celebrate and recognise the greatest young achievers in the Solomon Islands. This Award has been developed by the CYP SP Centre in line with the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment which calls on the development of award schemes for excellence in achievement in order to promote positive role models and foster young people’s self–esteem. The award has been instituted in partnership with the Australia Youth Trust, Solomon Islands Ministry of Women, Youth & Children's Affairs and other sponsors.

About 200 invited guests, including community leaders, Ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, and senior government officials joined the youth of Solomon Islands to celebrate the 2008 Commonwealth Day.