Jump to content

1973 Solomon Islands general election

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

General elections were held in the Solomon Islands between 22 May and 12 June 1973.[1] The following year, Solomon Mamaloni of the People's Progressive Party became the first Chief Minister.

Electoral system

[edit]

The Governing Council was enlarged from 26 to 33 seats prior to the election. Of the 33 members, 24 were elected in single-member constituencies (increased from seventeen) and nine were appointed, including three ex officio members.[2][3] The member representing Eastern Outer Island was elected directly for the first time, having previously been elected by an electoral college, although suffrage on the islands was limited to men by local chiefs.[3]

Campaign

[edit]

A total of 118 candidates contested the 24 elected seats.[2] Campaigning in Honiara was reported to be unusually bitter, with posters being torn down and several complaints made to the police.[4] Only one political party, the Solomons United National Party of David Kausimae, contested the elections.[1]

Results

[edit]

Only six of the MPs elected in 1970 were re-elected,[2] and only one member of the Solomons United National Party.[1] Voter turnout ranged from 42% in Honiara to 82%.[1]

Constituency Candidate Votes % Notes
ꞌAreꞌare David Kausimae 1,223 63.14 Re-elected
Peter Kenilorea 714 36.86
Total 1,937 100
Central Guadalcanal David Thuguvoda 618 41.28 Elected
Alfred Maeke 507 33.87 Unseated
Moses Albert Rere 191 12.76
Allan Billy Masedi 181 12.09
Total 1,497 100
Central Malaita Collin Gauwane 567 37.80 Elected
George Maelalo 243 16.20
Lionel Oloni 201 13.40
Vincent Talauburi 190 12.67
Jazial Fono 133 8.87
Frank Lulu Bare 89 5.93
Timeous Teioli 65 4.33
Nelson Kifo 12 0.80
Total 1,500 100
Choiseul Gideon Zoleveke 690 42.94 Elected
Franklin Pitakaka 318 19.79
Allan Qurusu 263 16.37
Binet Gadebeta 192 11.95
Benjamin Robinson 81 5.04
Peter Qorovuku 63 3.92
Total 1,607 100
East Guadalcanal Waeta Ben 618 39.31 Elected
David Valusa 216 13.74
Joel Kikolo 171 10.88
James Bosa 148 9.41
Sukuatu Malakia 113 7.19
Donasiano Pororasu 83 5.28
Salathiel Lence Roger 83 5.28
Total 1,572 100
East Isabel/Savo Francis Reginald Kikolo 628 33.65 Elected
Daniel Denys Maile 526 28.19
Wilson Sungi 394 21.11
Alfred Charles Bugoro 318 17.04
Total 1,866 100
East Makira Benedict Kinika 1,034 61.84 Elected
Geoffrey Kuper 638 38.16
Total 1,672 100
East Malaita Leslie Fugui 441 27.19 Elected
Faneta Sira 338 20.84
Billy Fa'arobo 205 12.64
John Maetia Kaliuae 188 11.59
Baddeley Koutu 111 6.84
Ben Gale 97 5.98
Andrew Gwai 88 5.43
Pita Saefafia Kirimaoma 87 5.36
Jack Inifiri 67 4.13
Total 1,622 100
Eastern Outer Islands Moffat Bonunga 1,001 50.56 Elected
John Melanoli 503 25.40
Shadrach Sade 199 10.05
John Palusi 176 8.89
David Dawea Taukalo 101 5.10 Unseated
Total 1,980 100
Gizo/Ranongga/Simbo/Kolombangara George Ngumi 876 62.30 Elected
Anthony Ramoi 276 19.63
Bruce Ragoso 148 10.53
Aquila Talasasa 55 3.91
Alfred Bisili 51 3.63
Total 1,406 100
Honiara Ashley Wickham 991 54.39 Elected
Peter J. Salaka 481 26.40 Unseated
Colin Bentley 196 10.76
Stephen Anilafa Sipolo 68 3.73
Moses Puibangara Pitakaka 50 2.74
Paul Belande 36 1.98
Total 1,822 100
Kwaio Jonathan Fiifii'i 477 36.78 Re-elected
Frank Tafea'a 330 25.44
Paul Andrew Foasi 238 18.35
John Maesafi 200 15.42
John Fisango 52 4.01
Total 1,297 100
Lau/Mbaelelea Philip Solodia 566 44.67 Elected
Mariano Kelesi 473 37.33 Unseated
Nathan Wate 193 15.23
David Mark Tefetea 35 2.76
Total 1,267 100
Marovo/Kusaghe Samuel Kuku 577 50.09 Re-elected
Pulepada Ghemu 575 49.91
Total 1,152 100
Nggela Moses Mahomed Razak 537 28.17 Elected
Abraham Siau 487 25.55
Richard Harper 419 21.98
Cecil Wilson Maneau 165 8.66
Frank Bollan Vikino 139 7.29
Ben Tumulima 104 5.46
Jeremiah Legaile Tovono 55 2.89
Michael Aike 54 2.83
Calisto Houma 46 2.41
Gabriel Narasia 40 2.10
Total 1,906 100
North West Malaita Jeriel Ofea Ausuta 389 34.92 Elected
Clement Kiriau Ofai 169 15.17 Unseated
Abel Limari'i 159 14.27
Bartholomew Leni Olea 157 14.09
Lemuel Liolea 108 9.69
Augustine Maelfodola 101 9.07
Jeriel Lifuasi 31 2.78
Total 1,114 100
Roviana/Rendova John Page 714 57.53 Elected
David E Kera 228 18.37
Joseph Nona 162 13.05
Alphonse Daga 137 11.04
Total 1,241 100
Shortlands/Vella Lavella Andrew Kukuti 528 41.41 Elected
Gordon Siama 452 35.45
Dominic Outana 295 23.14
Total 1,275 100
Small Malaita Emilio Li'I Ouou 608 42.40 Elected
Anthony Saru 340 23.71 Unseated
George Garnet 269 18.76
Richard Watekari 217 15.13
Total 1,434 100
South Guadalcanal/Rennell and Bellona Stephen Cheka 440 22.73 Elected
John Tepaika 387 19.99
George Pugeva 347 17.92 Unseated
George Wilson Mangale 335 17.30
Paul John 237 12.24
Saddia Chachia 83 4.29
Pende Cheryn 76 3.93
Jokim Gapu 31 1.60
Total 1,936 100
West Guadalcanal and Russells Matthew Belamataga 745 34.85 Elected
Orlie Torling 431 20.16
K Kesty Ta'afia 351 16.42
Bartholomew Buchanan 260 12.16
John Baptist Tura 214 10.01
Imogen Vida Phillips 137 6.41
Total 2,138 100
West Isabel Willie Betu 1,059 65.21 Re-elected
Eric Anderson 565 34.79
Total 1,624 100
West Kwara'ae Peter Kerr Thompson 1,169 72.74 Re-elected
Alan Taki 288 17.92
Leonard Maenu'u 150 9.33
Total 1,607 100
West Makira Solomon Mamaloni 1,272 74.00 Re-elected
Nathaniel Rahumae Waena 447 26.00
Total 1,719 100
Source: [5][6]

Aftermath

[edit]

Following the elections, a new political party – the United Solomon Islands Party (USIP) – was formed by fourteen of the winning candidates.[2] Benedit Kinika was elected chair of the new party, with Gideon Zoloveke as his deputy.[7] The Solomons United National Party became defunct.[7] In January 1974 another new party, the People's Progressive Party (PPP) was formed.[2] Having become defunct late in 1973, USIP was also revived.

Later in the 1974 constitutional amendments converted the Governing Council into a Legislative Assembly and introduced the position of Chief Minister, elected by the Assembly. Both USIP and the PPP attempted to win the support of the Independent Group led by Willie Betu before the vote on 27 August. Six rounds were required before a winner emerged. Solodia Funifaka dropped out after the fourth round, with the fifth round resulting in a tie between Kinika and Solomon Mamaloni. In the sixth round, Mamaloni won by 14 votes to 10 for Kinika.[8] A government was subsequently formed by the PPP independent MPs.[2][9]

Mamaloni appointed five ministers to his cabinet, keeping the Home Affairs portfolio for himself.[10] David Kausimae became Minister of Agriculture and the Rural Economy, Willie Betu was Minister for Education and Cultural Affairs, Stephen Cheka was Minister of Health and Welfare, Peter Kerr Thompson was Minister of Trade, Industry and Labour and Gideon Zoloveke was Minister of Works and Public Utilities.[8] Zoloveke was moved to the Ministry of Home Affairs in late 1974 and replaced as Minister of Works and Public Utilities by Solodia Funifaka.[11] A cabinet reshuffle took place in 1975, with Peter Kerr Thompson sacked from the cabinet. Willie Betu took over as Minister of Trade, Industry and Labour, with Stephen Cheka taking over from Betu as Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs.[12]

Mamaloni resigned as Chief Minister on 18 November 1975 over deal with an American firm to mint coins celebrating self-government. However, on 1 December he was re-elected as Chief Minister by the Legislative Assembly, defeating Allan Taki by 18 votes to 4.[13] He appointed a new cabinet with Jeriel Ausuta as Minister of Agriculture and Lands, Benedict Kinika as Minister of Education, Willie Betu as Minister of Finance, Pulepada Ghemu as Minister of Foreign Trade, Industry and Labour, Francis Kikolo as Minister of Health and Welfare, Jonathan Fiifii'i as Minister of Home Affairs, David Thuguvoda as Minister of Natural Resources and Ashley Wickham as Minister of Works and Public Utilities. Five of the nine ministers were members of USIP, two were from the PPP and one was an independent.[13]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Sun eclipsed by a new star in Solomons' election carve-up Pacific Islands Monthly, July 1973, pp3–4
  2. ^ a b c d e f Decolonising the Solomon Islands: British theory and Melanesian practice Alfred Deakin Research Institute
  3. ^ a b Giving them all a say in the government of the Solomons Pacific Islands Monthly, May 1973, p23
  4. ^ Playing rough in the Solomons Pacific Islands Monthly, June 1973, p11
  5. ^ Wood, Terence (1 May 2014). "Solomon Islands Election Results 1967-2013". Social Science Research Network.
  6. ^ Election Passport
  7. ^ a b Flexible idealists in the Solomons Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1973, p8
  8. ^ a b Triumph for the Solomons' Solomon Pacific Islands Monthly, October 1974, p5
  9. ^ Roland Rich, Luke Hambly & Michael G Morgan (2008) Political Parties in the Pacific Islands, ANU E Press, p106
  10. ^ Legislative Assembly Solomon Islands Historical Encyclopaedia 1893-1978
  11. ^ Mamaloni's motto: If you can't beat 'em, recruit 'em Pacific Islands Monthly, December 1974, p11
  12. ^ Ministers! Mamaloni's headache Pacific Islands Monthly, June 1975, p6
  13. ^ a b The story of Solomon, his coins and his return to the top Pacific Islands Monthly January 1976, p6