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The Solomon Islands

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The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the most bitter fighting of World War II occurred on this archipelago. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence two years later. Ethnic violence, government malfeasance, and endemic crime have undermined stability and civil society. In June 2003, then Prime Minister Sir Allan KEMAKEZA sought the assistance of Australia in reestablishing law and order; the following month, an Australian-led multinational force arrived to restore peace and disarm ethnic militias. The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has generally been effective in restoring law and order and rebuilding government institutions.

Government

Country name: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Solomon Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Solomon Islands
former: British Solomon Islands
Government type: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
name: Honiara
geographic coordinates: 9 26 S, 159 57 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
9 provinces and 1 capital territory*; Central, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona, Temotu, Western
Independence: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
7 July 1978 (from the UK)
National holiday: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
Constitution: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
7 July 1978
Legal system: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
English common law, which is widely disregarded; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Frank KABUI (since 7 July 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Danny PHILIP (since 25 August 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 20 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of parliament
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elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of parliament for up to five years (eligible for a second term); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition usually elected prime minister by parliament; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of parliament
Legislative branch: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
unicameral National Parliament (50 seats; members elected from single-member constituencies by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 4 August 2010 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Solomon Islands Democratic Party 13, Our Party 3, Reformed Democratic Party 3, Independent Democratic Party 2, PAP 2, SIPRA 2, Peoples Congress Party 1, Peoples Federation Party 1, Rural Development Party 1, Rural and Urban Political Party 1, Solomon Islands Liberal Party 1, Solomon Islands National Party 1, independents 19
Judicial branch: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
International organization participation: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
chief of mission: Ambassador Collin David BECK
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400L, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6192, 6193
FAX: [1] (212) 661-8925
Diplomatic representation from the US: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
the US does not have an embassy in the Solomon Islands; the US ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to the Solomon Islands
Flag description: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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; blue represents the ocean; green the land; and yellow sunshine; the five stars stand for the five main island groups of the Solomon Islands
National anthem: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
name: “God Save Our Solomon Islands”
lyrics/music: Panapasa BALEKANA and Matila BALEKANA/Panapasa BALEKANA
note: adopted 1978
Government - note: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
by the end of 2007, the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) - originally made up of police and troops from Australia, NZ, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga - had been scaled back to 303 police officers, 197 civilian technical advisers, and 72 military advisers from 15 countries across the region

Military

Military branches: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
no regular military forces; Solomon Islands Police Force (2009)
Manpower available for military service: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
males age 16-49: 150,987 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
males age 16-49: 125,928
females age 16-49: 126,999 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
male: 7,256
female: 6,995 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: See information ranked by country 45

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
since 2003, 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
Refugees and internally displaced persons: Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
IDPs: 5,400 (displaced by tsunami on 2 April 2007) (2007)


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