Journey of Unity: Students embraced as Queen’s Baton Relay 2010 Delhi ends

The Queen’s Baton Relay 2010 Delhi has ended on a high note after a three days journey around the capital, Honiara.

Island nation's leading newspaper the Solomon Star reported that the last day yesterday has again been a successful day as the baton visited children and students in different schools and also the Rove prison.

The relay started at Mbokonavera School yesterday then to Mbokona, St John, Bishop Epalle Catholic School, Red Cross handicap centre, White-River and ended at Tanagai School.

From Tanagai, it was accompanied down to Rove where it was met and handed over to the Police Commissioner Peter Marshall who took the baton through a police guard of honour to the Rove Correctional Services.

At the Rove prison, it was met by the Correctional Services Commissioner Francis Haisoma who took escorted the baton to visit the prisoners.

Haisoma during his short remarks said that the prisoners were truly grateful that the Queens Baton has visited them.

It was explained to the prisoners that the baton has a GPS that monitors its whereabouts, a video camera and audio recorder that captures everything that moves and makes a sound.

“We are very privileged that the baton is here with us and I want to thank the organisers that there are no discriminations or whatsoever in regards to the status of the prisoners and therefore although our prisoners are here they are thought of to have the chance to see and touch the baton”, Haisoma said.

The baton after leaving Rove police station was accompanied by Commissioner Marshall again to town ground to the awaiting Miss Solomon Rabobo Toma, British High Commissioner Timothy Smart and the NOCSI president Fred Maetoloa who accompanied the baton to the Honiara City Council.

At the HCC, it was met by the Director of Public Prosecution Ronald Bei Talasasa.

The baton ended its journey at the Government House with NOCSI presenting the baton back to the Governor General Sir Frank Kabui who then handed it back to the Oceania Commonwealth President Vui Tapasu Leung Wai.

The baton will be leaving the country on Monday morning to Nauru.