Solomon Islands SICA says church leaders should visit Weathercoast region
The general secretary of the Solomon Islands Christian Association, or SICA, says a visit by church leaders could reduce
some of the tension on the Weathercoast region of Guadalcanal.
The Reverend Philemon Riti was speaking after a deputy special co-ordinator at the Regional Assistance Mission, or
RAMSI, visited the Weathercoast and said the effects of years of ethnic tension is still being felt and reconciliation
is urgently needed.
Reverend Riti says with people turning against their own neighbours during the tension, there needs to be a proper
reconciliation.
He says work is continuing to prepare the way for proper peace to be achieved but there’s still a long way to go.
“I believe very strongly that the heads of the churches should have a time to go and visit the Weathercoast and talk to
people. Our presence there would be very important, very significant because people really are respecting the church
leaders more than anybody else, apart from the chiefs in the villages.”
The Reverend Philemon Riti.