BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
SOLOMON Islands’ World Environment Day will be celebrated in the Barana community with the opening of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Administration block.
This is the first time in the history of Solomon Islands that a global event such as World Environment Day will be celebrated with rural people particularly the Barana community of Guadalcanal province.
The event is celebrated globally under the theme “Beating Plastic Pollution”.
The SPREP Admin Block opening also coincides with the celebration, a site visit to the proposed National Nature Park located at the Barana’s hill top.
Site preparation is going well with support from the Ministry Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Management, Guadalcanal Province, and SPC and inputs from the community.
Vice Chairlady for Barana SPREP Coordinator Committee Ms Melinda Kii said Barana community is privileged the World Environment Day will be celebrated there.
She said the event is a half-day programme but the Barana community is thrilled to host the World Environment Day in their community.
“It’s a pride for us that the global event had happen at our community level which involves rural people and this makes us feels part of the global event, and we want to make best out of it and a memorable one,” Ms Kii said.
She thanked the government and stakeholders for choosing Barana to celebrate the world environment day and take time out to spend it with the rural people.
The event will educate people to understand the significance of the environment and ideas of replanting and conservation.
Awareness on plastic and rubbish management will also be conducted and ways to keep natural environment maintain its flora, she adds.
Barana women are ready to put on traditional performances with primary students joining the Solomon Islands Scout Association for a parade and flag rising.
The event will also include planting of trees in three attractive locations that embrace astounding views to the mountains, valleys, Honiara city and ocean.
