Simple directory > Regional > Solomon Islands

Country : Solomon Islands Official name: Solomon Islands Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor General Nathaniel Waena (took office 7 Jul 2004) Head of government: Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza (PAP) (elected by parliament 2001) Ruling party: People's Alliance Party (PAP) Area: 27,556 square km – Guadalcanal: 5,302 square km Population: 479,900 (2004) Capital: Honiara (on Guadalcanal) Official language: English Currency: Solomon Islands dollar (SI$) = 100 cents Exchange rate: SI$7.38 per US$ (Nov 2004) (the SI$ was devalued by 25 per cent in Mar 2002) GDP per capita: US$719 (2003) GDP real growth: 5.00% (2003) Labour force: 26,842 (2003) Inflation: 8.00% (2003) Balance of trade: -US$35.00 million (2003) Foreign debt: US$137.00 million (2003) Visitor numbers: 4,000 (Jan–Aug 2003)

Historical profile

The Solomon Islands were settled 4,000 to 5,000 years ago by Austronesians, neolithic people from south-east Asia.

1568 The Spanish explorer, Alvaro de Mendana, was the first European to come to the islands. The origin of the name Solomon Islands is thought to have come from Mendana's hope that the islands were rich with gold and so were named after King Solomon.

The islands were left alone until the mid-nineteenth century when whaling ships stopped there.

1893 The Central Solomons became a British protectorate.

1900 Germany ceded its islands in the group to the British.

1942 In the Second World War, Japanese troops invaded the islands.

1943 US forces recaptured the territory and the islands were returned to British rule.

1976 Self-government was granted.

1978 The Solomon Islands became fully independent.

1989 Solomon Mamaloni became prime minister. He immediately announced the suspension of all overseas aid, representing 20 per cent of GDP, to the Solomon Islands. The decision was later reversed.

1993 Factional splits led to Mamaloni leaving the People's Alliance Party (PAP) and forming the Group for National Unity and Reconciliation (GNUR). The elections were won by Francis Billy Hilly.

1994 Billy Hilly lasted a year before being replaced by Mamaloni.

1997 The general election was won by Bartholomew Ulufa'alu and his Alliance for Change.

2000 Solomon Mamaloni died. An ethnic militia seized control of the capital, Honiara. Prime Minister Bartholomew Ulufa'alu resigned under duress. In an emergency vote, Mannasseh Sogavare was elected prime minister and his party, the Solomon Islands National Unity, Reconciliation and Progressive Party (SINURPP), governed from July. In October, the two ethnic militias, the Malaita Eagles Force (MEF) and the Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM) signed a peace deal (The Townsville Peace Agreement) in Australia.

2001 In the parliamentary elections, none of the major parties achieved an overall majority in parliament. Sir Allan Kemakeza, leader of the PAP, was elected prime minister by the new 50-member parliament and he formed a government.

2003 The islands of Tikopia, Fata'ka and Anuta were hit by a cyclone in January. A member of the National Peace Council and former Police Commissioner was assassinated in Auki, Malaita Province in February. The government voted to accept an international peace-keeping force led by Australia; the troops arrived in July.

2004 There was volcanic activity at Kavachi Seamount on 15 March. On 7 July, Nathaniel Waena was sworn in as governor general. A draft constitution for a new federal system of government in the Solomon Islands was completed in July.

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