BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
The British High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands, His Excellency Paul Turner has organised a short event to commemorate Victory in Europe Day.
2025 marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) on May 8. Yesterday’s event also involved the laying of wreaths.
Attending the event are the Solomon Island Governor General David Tiva Kapu, Solomon Island Royal Police Force Deputy commissioner Juanita Matanga, Australian High Commissioner Rod Hilton and Brett Verity rep of the Australian Defence Force, Japan Ambassador Keiichi Hagiuchi, United States Charge d’affaires Ms Kristine Marsh, New Zealand High Commissioner Jonathan Curr, Anglican church of Melanesia Rev Wilfred Kekea, Solomon Islands Scouts & Coastwatchers Mr Michael Ben, Solomon Islands Scouts Association chief commissioner Mr Joe Billy Oge, Solomon Islands Girls Guides Association commissioner Rosalind Manekaea, Halo Trust, St Johns Ambulance Chief Executive officer Michael Andrew and Westminster Foundation for Democracy Country Director Vatina Devesi.
Delivering his opening remarks at the British High Commissioner’s official residence, Tanuli Ridge, yesterday, Commissioner Turner said that 8 May was commemorated to pay tribute to the heroism that defeated fascism in Europe and Asia.
“Eighty years ago, on the 8th of May 1945, Germany surrendered its forces to the Allies, marking the end of World War II,” said Turner.
“Three months later, the war in the Pacific also came to an end. It was the most devastating conflict in history. And today we pay tribute to the heroism that defeated fascism in Europe and Asia,” he said.
“We particularly remember today the fighters, the resistance fighters, the Allied soldiers who gave their lives confronting Hitler’s Nazi Germany and its Allies. And out of that emerged what we thought and what we hope, and still hope, is a new consensus that the multilateral system would somehow enable us to be working together to guarantee security of all sizes of countries,” Turner added.
He said that there was a new embedded belief that the United Nations and other multilateral organisations and Institutions would somehow be a front against future injustice and aggression.
“So today I want to say that I’m honoured to have the company of you who are here. All our countries have gone through war in different ways, and we are here to remember those who have fought against aggression, some 80 years ago. So, let’s remember that, and let’s be together in ensuring that justice and international law will continue into the future,” Turner concludes.
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