BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE
SOLOMON Islands Democratic Coalition for Change Government (SIDCCG) efforts in sustaining peace stands on four principles.
This was expressed by Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela who attended the launch of UNPBF’s (United Nations Peacebuilding Fund) Joint Programme Initiative at the Heritage Park Hotel on Tuesday.
Having an explicit and deliberate peacebuilding policy for all citizens, continuous well-grounded peacebuilding initiatives, aspiration for the peace building agenda to be an endogenous process and a peace policy that is all encompassing was expressed by the Prime Minister as the government’s four stand points in sustaining peace in the country.
Whilst stressing on the third point, he said that SIDCCG wants the peace building agenda to be an endogenous process which he stated as something that requires strong and inclusive national ownership and leadership.
In this regard, Prime Minister Houenipwela voiced that the government’s commitment is illustrated by the leadership of the Ministry of National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace, Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in spearheading the implementation of the peacebuilding initiative.
“Needless to say, Solomon Islands is one of a few countries that has a ministry dedicated for peacebuilding and reconciliation,” he said.
The Prime Minister further referred to the launching of the UN peacebuilding programme which centres on consolidating peace, stability and social cohesion in Solomon Islands as a contributing initiative to our peace building initiatives.
“This programme should not be a stand-alone like many other programmes in the country. It is important to have strong coordination on peacebuilding work and make this a collective effort,” he said.
