Solomon SICA says church should visit Weathercoast

Wednesday, 5 July 2006, 1:58 pm
Press Release: Radio New Zealand International

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.

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