NationMaster - Solomon Islander Government statistics

Administrative divisions 9 provinces and 1 capital territory; Central, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Honiara, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona, Temotu, Western
Capital city > Geographic coordinates	9 26 S, 159 57 E
Constitution	7 July 1978
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chief of mission Ambassador Collin David BECK
Executive branch > Cabinet Cabinet consists of 20 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of Parliament
Executive branch > Chief of state Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Nathaniel WAENA (since 7 July 2004)
Flag description divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green
Government type	parliamentary democracy
Independence	7 July 1978 (from UK)
Judicial branch	Court of Appeal
Legal system English common law, which is widely disregarded; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral National Parliament (50 seats; members elected from single-member constituencies by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
National holiday	Independence Day, 7 July
Parliamentary seats > Female	2%	[126th of 143]
Political parties and leaders Association of Independent Members or AIM [Thomas CHAN]; Christian Alliance Solomon Islands or CASI [Edward RONIA]; LAFARI Party [John GARO]; National Party [Francis HILLY]; People's Alliance Party or PAP [Sir Allan KEMAKEZA]; Social Credit Party or SOCRED [Manasseh Damukana SOGAVARE]; Solomon First Party [David QUAN]; Solomon Islands Democratic Party [Gabriel SURI]; Solomon Islands Labor Party or SILP [Joses TUHANUKU]; Solomon Islands Liberal Party [Bartholomew ULUFA'ALU]; Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement or SIPRA [Job D. TAUSINGA]; United Party [Sir Peter KENILOREA]; note: in general, Solomon Islands politics is characterized by fluid coalitions
Political pressure groups and leaders Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM); Malaita Eagle Force (MEF); note - these rival armed ethnic factions crippled the Solomon Islands in a wave of violence from 1999 to 2003
Status democracy
Suffrage 21 years of age; universal
Time required to start a business > days	57 days	[39th of 171]
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International since 2003, the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), consisting of police, military, and civilian advisors drawn from 15 countries, has assisted in reestablishing and maintaining civil and political order while reinforcing regional stability and security

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SOURCES: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; United Nations World Statistics Pocketbook and Statistical Yearbook; electionworld.org; World Development Indicators database

ALTERNATIVE NAMES: Solomon Islands

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COMMENTARY

Ian Graham
Staff Editor
30th March 2005

Solomon Islands politics being characterized by fluid coalitions bears no relation to the education levels of the country’s leaders. It merely indicates that no single political party is able to win a majority of the seats in parliament or establish a firm coalition with another party.

In order to pass legislation, the government (the party with the most seats) must persuade some of the members of other parties to vote along with it. If there were two parties with several common goals or ideals, they might form a longstanding coalition. If such a coalition cannot be formed, the ruling party must attract enough votes for pieces of legislation on a case-by-case basis, usually by promising to pass a law desired by the coalition partners or providing some other benefit.

The “fluidity” of the coalitions refers to the fact that they are not static, but constantly changing.

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