Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare awarded more than 100 people the country's independence awards for 2006 and 2007.
Fifty people among a list of 64 recipients of the 2007 independence awards have been awarded a Solomon Islands Silver Medal for having demonstrated a selfless act of extreme courage, extraordinary compassion and bravery during the April 2 earthquake and tsunami in Western and Choiseul provinces.Others were awarded a Silver medal for long and dedicated service in various areas including politics, commerce, tourism and community service.
The 2006 independence awards was also announced, ten of the recipients being awarded a Cross of Solomon Islands for long and dedicated service in their respective areas of work, with 29 others announced Solomon Islands Silver medal recipients of the 2006 Independence awards.