Today marks a historical milestone for Solomon Islands as registered voters nationwide will cast their votes in the country’s first ever Joint Elections – the casting of votes for National Parliamentarians, Provincial Assembly Members/Honiara City Councillors in a single day.
The importance of all eligible Solomon Islanders participating in the electoral process cannot be over-emphasized and so is the importance of each and every eligible voter casting her/his votes wisely.
This year’s Parliamentary level election is the 12th since the country attained political independence from Great Britian on 7 July 1978.
Looking at the state of affairs in Solomon Islands since independence, we are at the crossroads – choosing between a bright future and gloomy future. The type of future we choose depends on the types of candidates that we cast our votes for.
So, we the voters must be reminded of our solemn responsibility to choose the next set of leaders to lead us at the national governing leadership level and the provincial/city council leadership level. This solemn responsibility must be executed prayerfully.
As nation, have come through thick and thin. Our national unity was tested to its limit and we could have fallen apart as a nation but through the Grace of God, we managed to travel on this challenging journey of nationhood.
What has transpired after all that we have come through is that we the eligible voters of the nation must rise up to the challenge of choosing leaders who are capable of steering our nation forward.
To choose good leaders we must say no to bribes and cast our votes based on our God-given conscience. As already expressed, a bad voting decision will deny us of good services, a strong economy and a well-developed nation, whilst a good voting decision will lead us to prosperity.
So, as we cast our votes today, cast it as a matter of life and death.
May God bless Solomon Islands from shore to shore!
