Flags at half-mast and a complicated colonial legacy: Pacific countries remember the Queen

George Mackenzie was in first grade at Koloale primary school in Honiara when Queen Elizabeth first visited Solomon Islands in 1974.

“I remembered we were all lined up along Chinatown under the pouring rain to wave our union jack flags at the Queen when she drove past us,” said Mackenzie, who is now 57.

Solomon Islands is one of 11 Pacific countries, including Australia and New Zealand, that are part of the Commonwealth, and one of just a handful that still have the British monarch as head of state.

As Pacific countries woke to news of the death of the Queen on Friday morning, there was a mixture of grief, nostalgia, but also pain at the legacy of colonialism in their countries, many of which have become republics in the last few decades.

In Solomon Islands, flags were flown at half-mast and many people posted condolence messages on Facebook and changed their profile pictures to images of the Queen.

When the Queen first set foot in Solomon Islands, she was given the name Fau Ni Qweraasi, meaning “a people’s protector”, by the late chief Simeon Kariqwongi of Star Harbour. Kariqwongi’s granddaughter, Gloria Paru, used the title when paying tribute to the late Queen on Friday.

“Fau Ni Qweraasi passed away this morning, my grand-father Chief Kariqwongi gave her that name … Rest in peace with our dear Lord, my Fau ni Qweraasi,” she wrote.

In neighbouring Papua New Guinea, which also had the Queen as head of state, prime minister James Marape issued a warm statement calling the Queen “the anchor of our Commonwealth”.

“For PNG we fondly call her ‘Mama Queen’ because she was the matriarch of our country as much as she was to her family and her Sovereign realms,” he said.

‘Hearts are heavy’

In nearby Fiji, which was a British colony from 1874 until 1970, the Queen was being mourned, with Fijians reflecting on her largely positive relationship with the country.

“Fijian hearts are heavy this morning as we bid farewell to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” wrote the prime minister, Frank Bainimarama, in a statement posted on Twitter.

“We will always treasure the joy of her visits to Fiji along with every moment that her grace, courage, and wisdom were a comfort and inspiration to our people, even a world away.”

“Fiji adores and looks up to the monarchy,” said Jon Namacablawa, who said he was “saddened” by the news, which he received on his way to work at Fiji Museum. “She has led the empire very well. She has led with passion.”

Isireli Racagimalua, who is a recent political science graduate at the University of South Pacific, learned about the Queen’s six visits to Fiji from his grandparents.

“For me personally I wish I was around to witness how Fiji welcomed [The Queen],” says Racagimalua. “I think it is a loss for everyone … the world has lost someone great. She witnessed world wars, the Great Depression, pandemics. Prince Charles has a lot of work to prove himself.”

Colonialism, however, has affected some Fijian’s feelings toward the monarch, says Inise Kuruwale, a librarian at the museum.

“I believe most people feel sad today, but not all, because a lot of people are still a bit angry about the fact of colonialism.”

Kuruwale said she thought the community would largely be split along generational lines and that particularly among 18- to 35-year-olds, Britain’s history in Fiji was not seen in a positive light.

“It is the new generation that is more educated on the impact of colonialism had on Fiji … I think most people [in that age group] … would just go on about their day.”

‘We are independent now’

In Vanuatu, which was run as a joint colonial post by the French and British after the second world war until gaining independence 42 years ago, residents of the capital of Port Vila expressed sadness for her passing, but said the relevance of the monarchy has dimmed over the years.

“She was a very good role model. She came to Vanuatu, but it was before I was born,” said Lopez Adams, who owns a cafe in Port Vila. “We are sad for her family, but for us, we have been forgotten. Colonisers came and they took. We are independent now and we have seen nothing from them.”

Natalie, who manages the cafe, and did not wish to give her surname, said that the country’s reaction might have been affected by political turmoil in the country. Last month the government dissolved parliament to prevent a no-confidence vote, putting the government into caretaker mode.

“When Princess Diana died the government declared a public holiday, same when Pope John Paul died, but we have no government at the moment,” Natalie said.

It was not yet known whether news of the Queen’s death has reached the remote villages of Yaohnanen and Yakel, on the southern island Tanna. For decades, villagers there who belonged to the Prince Philip movement revered the late Duke of Edinburgh.