Solomon Islands commemorates International Day of Democracy marking 46 years of democracy for the people, by the people

Excerpt and Photo from UNDP.ORG

Honiara city woke up earlier than usual on 17 September; it had a good reason to do so: to celebrate the rights of Solomon Islanders to choose their government. This has been happening since the Pacific nation became independent 46 years ago.

Before the sun fully rose, crowds donning orange T-shirts emblazoned with this year´s theme – 46 years of democracy for the people by the people – started to gather at the Honiara City Council. By 7am, the streets were alive with energy as participants embarked on a celebratory march toward the Youth Hub. Chants of “Solomon Islands Democracy,” “For the People, By the People,” and “Happy International Democracy Day” echoed through the city, setting a spirited tone for the day’s festivities.

The event this year has been organized by the Political Parties Commission (PPC) and the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Strengthening the Electoral Cycle in Solomon Islands Project (SECSIP) and the Provincial Governments and Service Delivery Project (PGSD) and generous financial support by Australia and the European Union.