New Year's Resolution a Rare Practice

With 2009 just a day away, locals are talking about everything but one thing: a New Year's resolution.

Just as nicely wrapped presents are associated with Christmas Day, most Solomon Islanders lack to realise the trend of setting a resolution just as the clock strikes midnight to another year dawning.

Taking the streets, Solomon Times caught most confused on what a resolution was and gathered a mixture of serious and hilarious 'resolution' from locals.

"I will be more fruitful and multiply," an elderly from Guadalcanal Province, Paul Suki'i, 40, proudly told Solomon Times.

Elaborating on his resolution, Mr. Suki'i said that it is simply fulfilling what the Bible says, "that means having more children".

For a young Malaitan woman, Mellie Ifunau'oa, 20, said that a resolution for her would be to quit old habits.

"This is good, making a resolution and for me, I will quit old habits and focus more on important things in life," she said.

"I would want to achieve the things in life that would make me a better person to live with, set my priorities right and I will be starting mine as soon as the clock strikes twelve," Mellie added.

An officer from Youth, Sports and Women's Affairs of the Honiara City Council, Patrick Palou, said that dealing with youths on a daily basis, "the most proper resolution would be to look out for more engagement opportunities for youths."

"More young people are engaged in criminal activities these days in our city, discovering opportunities to keep them engaged from trouble is a good resolution," he added.

On the other side, a father of one, Cullrick Runimeti from Western Province, said that "enough drinking beers and attending church would be the first and foremost to kick start a resolution for 2009."

Most youths approached had varying resolutions but most along the line of "quit smoking and alcohol".

Whilst the practice may still be foreign to a lot of Solomon Islanders, making a New Year's resolution comes in colourful folds through the crowd.