Today marks 45 years since our attainment of nationhood from Great Britian. 45 years back, Solomon Islands joined the international community as a sovereign state. 45 years back, the Union Jack flag was lowered for the final time and our Solomon Islands national flag of blue, green colours with a white diagonal and five stars was unfurled for the first time in a solemn ceremony at the Lawson Tama field. Our National Anthem was then sung for the first time.
As we celebrate the 45th anniversary of our nationhood today, it is important that we ponder over the words of our national anthem which speaks of Solomon Islands as a Christian nation and the entrustment of its nationhood in God’s protective hands:
God save our Solomon Islands from shore to shore
Bless all our people and all our lands with your protective hands
Joy, Peace, Progress and Prosperity;
That men should brothers be, make nations see
Our Solomon Islands, our Solomon Islands
Our Nation Solomon Islands stands forever more.
The third and fourth lines evoke that our national joy, peace and progress or in other words, our national wellness lies in us Solomon Islanders embracing the spirit of brotherliness (oneness) despite our vast cultural diverseness and be an example of a united culturally diverse nation to the world.
As we celebrate our 45 years of nationhood journey, let us ask ourselves the question of whether we have been a good role model of a united culturally diverse nation? The answer is no. But this does not mean that it is too late for us to make amends to be a good role model.
Indeed, we have come through a lot of challenges – challenges that threatened to disintegrate us as a united culturally diverse nation. Our national brotherliness (unity) as Solomon Islanders can be maintained and enhanced by seeing each and every Solomon Islander as an important citizen of our nation. The Christian principles of love, respect and tolerance be the cornerstone of our nationhood.
The theme of our 45th Independence Anniversary: “Rising Above and Overcoming our Challenges as One People” is a relevant one in a time when our nation continues to grapple with so many challenges.
Let us capitalise on these challenges as the building blocks for our national prosperity as a united culturally-diverse nation.
May God bless our nation from shore to shore and let our celebrations where ever we are in our geographically scattered nation or across the globe be a peaceful and meaningful one.
