Solomon Islands yesterday marked World Meteorology Day in Honiara with a government pledge to continue its support for National Meteorological Services in the country.
Minister of Environment, Conservation and Meteorology, Hon. Gordon Darcy Lilo said in view of extreme weather events and Climate Change meteorological data and information has been and will the basis for future policies and decisions of the national governments to tackle this global problem."The National Meteorological Service will despite the many challenges faced in its developments continue to provide these essential services," Minister Lilo said.
March 23 every year was inaugurated to mark the establishment of the World Meteorological Organization in 1950, a United Nations authoritative voice on the state and the behavior of the earth's atmosphere and its interactive processes.
This year's theme is "the World Meteorological Organization - 60 Years of service for your safety and well-being." Minister Lilo said the theme is appropriate at a time when communities around the globe are striving to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, in particular concerning health, food and water security and poverty alleviation, as well as to improve their resilience in the face of recurrent natural disasters and to assist them in proactively responding to the mounting impacts of climate change.
The legal establishment of the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Meteorology by the CNURA government emphasizes the importance of the services that Meteorological Services has provided during the last 50 years for safety of lives, properties and the socio-economic development of the country.
Mr Lilo said his Ministry is grateful to all its partners nationally and abroad for the assistance rendered in the provision and the development of its meteorological services.