BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
MASURU and Meqe communities at Simbo Island, Western Province, ushered in the New Year with a strong message of hope and renewal under the theme “Never Too Late: Restart, Refocus, Reform.”
The New Year celebrations began with a watch night prayer service at midnight, where community members gathered around a pyramid structure made of dried coconut leaves and bamboo, built along the beach.
As the clock struck 12, the structure was set alight, sending a huge flame into the night sky to symbolise the closing of the old year and the beginning of a new journey.
Mebovama community, which comprises of three villages in Ward 3 of Simbo Island, traditionally comes together every year to celebrate the New Year, starting with the watch night service.
The year marked a milestone, as Meqe village hosted the New Year celebrations for the first time.
The host family chose the theme for 2026, “Never Too Late: Restart, Refocus and Reform,” to encourage reflection and positive change.
In his welcome address, the host family speaker challenged community members to remain vigilant as they step into 2026, urging them not to be discouraged by unachieved goals or weighed down by past mistakes.
“Let us not regret our failures, but instead see this New Year as a fresh opportunity to move forward with purpose,” he said.
Speaking during the programme, Hon Gideon Tuke echoed the theme, saying the New Year offers everyone another chance to restart, refocus and reform their lives.
“It is never too late. Start now or never. If you care about your own future and that of your community, the government and the churches, start now,” he said.
The celebrations also featured a range of activities that brought joy and unity, including ball-and-spoon races, cup-and-straw games, canoe races, dancing competitions and choir performances.
The New Year programme will conclude with a handover ceremony, where the host family will officially pass responsibility to the next host village for the 2027 New Year celebrations, continuing the long-standing tradition of unity among the Mebovama community.
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