Central Province Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Solomon Islands

The 29th of June is Central Province Day, also known as the Second Appointed Day in the Central Province. The Central Province is one of the Solomon Islands’ nine provinces. It encompasses the Russell Islands, the Florida Islands, and the Savo Islands and is 237 square miles in size. According to the 2010 census, this region is home to more than 26,000 individuals. This region observes Central Province Day, a day off for the general population. During this holiday, the majority of businesses, institutions, and government offices are closed. Let’s learn more about this day’s significance in the Solomon Islands.

The background of Central Province Day

Among the initial 12 administrative districts of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate were Choiseul, Eastern Solomons, Gizo, Guadalcanal, Nggela and Savo, Rennell and Bellona Islands, Santa Cruz, and Shortlands. Tulagi was the administrative headquarters. Following World War II, the protectorate was divided into four districts: Central, Western, Eastern, and Malaita, each of which was further divided into councils. The administrative centre of Tulagi has been relocated to Honiara.

In 1978, the protectorate of the Solomon Islands gained independence and became the sovereign state of Solomon Islands. Honiara remained the capital of the sovereign nation until 1981, when the country was divided into seven provinces by partitioning the districts into provinces.

Prior to 1981, the newly separated provinces were administered by district councils. 1983 saw the separation of Honiara from Guadalcanal Province and the establishment of an autonomous capital territory. The provincial capital of Guadalcanal remains in the city. In 1995, Choiseul Province was divided from Western Province, and Rennell and Bellona Provinces were separated from Central Province, resulting in the nine provinces that exist today.

The Central Province Day was established in 1981 as the second appointed day for the province and commemorated its 40th anniversary in 2021. On June 29, that year, bottle stores were prohibited from selling alcohol as part of the festivities. The island’s superintendent also exhorted everyone to observe the law, noting that past festivities were not always peaceful.

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