C ommo nwe a l t h memb e r c o u n t r i e s In the April 2006 election – with Commonwealth observers present – 16 members of the government lost their seats. Kemakeza retained his seat but his People’s Alliance Party was much reduced, while Snyder Rini’s AIM did well, with 13 newly elected members. Rini was subsequently elected Prime Minister by the new parliament. Rioting then broke out and a large portion of Chinatown in Honiara was destroyed by fire. In the same month Rini stood down when he no longer had the support of the majority of members of parliament and early in May 2006 parliament elected Manasseh Sogavare (leader of the Social Credit Party) Prime Minister. Sogavare was ousted in December 2007 in a parliamentary vote of no confidence, which was precipitated by the defection in November of nine government ministers. The leader of the recently established Coalition for National Unity and Rural Advancement, and Education Minister in the Sogavare administration, Derek Sikua, became Prime Minister. In the fourth round of voting, in June 2009, parliament elected Sir Frank Kabui to succeed Sir Nathaniel Waena as Governor-General, effective from July. In the election of 4 August 2010 the Solomon Islands Democratic Party, led by Steven Abana, secured 13 of the 50 parliamentary seats; the numerous other parties won 18 seats; and independents, the rest. The Commonwealth observer group present at the election reported that the people had freely exercised their democratic right. In the parliamentary vote that followed the general election, Danny Philip, leader of the Solomon Islands Reform and Democratic Party (a coalition of parties and independent members), was chosen as Prime Minister, polling 26 votes; his only rival, Steven Abana, won the support of 23 members. In November 2011, following defections from the ruling coalition, Prime Minister Philip resigned. In the parliamentary vote that followed former Finance Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo was chosen to be Prime Minister with the support of 29 of the 49 members who voted. On 6 May 2014, in the fourth round of parliamentary voting, Sir Frank Kabui was re-elected Governor-General when he defeated Andrew Mua (23 to 21 votes). At the general election on 19 November 2014 independent candidates took 32 seats, the Democratic Alliance Party seven, the United Democratic Party five and the People’s Alliance Party three. On 9 December 2014 Manasseh Sogavare was elected Prime Minister by the newly assembled Parliament; he defeated Jeremiah Manele 31:19. A Commonwealth observer group present at the general election concluded that it was conducted in a peaceful environment and voters appeared generally able to cast their votes freely. Local government Ministry: Provincial Government There are three spheres of government in Solomon Islands: central, provincial and local. Devolved government is provided for by the Local Government Act 1996, the Provincial Government Act 1997 and the Honiara City Act 1999, and is enshrined in the constitution. The Minister for Provincial Government is responsible for provincial government and the Minister for Home Affairs for Honiara City Council, the only entity of local government that has been established so far. Provincial assembly and Honiara City Council elections are held every four years. Only Honiara City Council has revenue-raising powers, and levies property and business taxes, and licence fees as well as charging for certain services. National development plan The Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Co-ordination launched the country’s National Development Strategy 2011–20 in September 2011. The strategy sets out a road map for achievement of the national vision of a ‘united and vibrant Solomon Islands’. It is the outcome of an extensive consultation process with all stakeholders, including civil society, provincial governments, and private sector and development partners. The overarching priority of the strategy is ‘to build better lives for all Solomon Islanders’. Further information Prime Minister’s Office: www.pmc.gov.sb Commonwealth Secretariat: www.thecommonwealth.org Commonwealth Governance: www.commonwealthgovernance.org Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2014/15 252 Governance institutions Central Bank of Solomon Islands: www.cbsi.com.sb Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration: www.commerce.gov.sb Ministry of Finance and Treasury: www.mof.gov.sb National Parliament of Solomon Islands: www.parliament.gov.sb
CEP template 2012
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