Western Province ready to welcome New Year 2026

By Lachlan Eddie in Gizo

As New Year’s Eve arrives, people living in and around Gizo Town are flooding into the town center for last-minute shopping before returning to their respective homes to welcome the New Year 2026.

Markets and shops are filled with people who came from islands and communities in and around Gizo.

SIBC managed to visit several communities in Gizo and get firsthand information about preparations to welcome the New Year.

In Niumada, the community convened at their cultural house to perform a cultural drama—a dance that is a cultural ritual of the Gilbertese people.

This cultural drama is one of the main programs for the community leading up to the New Year.

In an exclusive interview with SIBC, an elder, Teekea, said at 11:30 PM tonight the community will hold a church service to welcome the New Year.

After that they will have other programs, including dances for New Year’s Day.

In Paeloge, games and other activities have been organized by the Paeloge Honiara-Based group to engage people and prevent criminal behavior.

Representative of the organizing committee, Clera Sam, urged people in and around Paeloge to participate in the program so they will not be involved in criminal activities.

She added that they have a lineup of programs to welcome the New Year.

Meanwhile, a resident from Barakoma in Vella Lavella commended community policing for providing ample security to their community from Christmas through to the New Year.

He said they have programs hosted by families to keep people together as they count down to New Year 2026.

And in Gizo Town, George Scott, well known by the name Cottsi, and Chelsie will perform live at Gizo Hotel for the New Year’s countdown.

Both urged people in Gizo to behave well so that their performance can continue until daybreak on Thursday—New Year’s Day.

Other communities and churches in the province also have their own New Year programs.

[END]