Golden Buoy Ceremony
The Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Honourable Manassah Sogavare and the Deputy Australian High Commissioner, Her Excellency, Sally-Anne Vincent, led a ceremony at the SMI site in Honiara, uniquely marking the commencement of the marine cable lay.
Also present were representatives of four tribes of Tandai, traditional landowners in recognition of their support for the project. In the Golden Buoy ceremony a chain of recognition was followed symbolically by the passing of the buoy.
The buoy was first passed from Vocus Communications, the contractor building the system, to the Commonwealth of Australia, then on to Chairman of SISCC, who will be the operator, then on to the traditional landowners who finally passed the buoy to the Prime Minister.
A copy of the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Manassah Sogavare’s speech is included here.
A copy of the deputy Australian High Commissioner, Sally-Anne Vincent’s speech is included here.
