Solomon Islands

In 1893, Britain made the southern Solomon Islands a protectorate. Other islands were added to the group, including some ceded to Britain by Germany. The Solomon Islands were occupied by the Japanese during World War II. Following the war, internal self-government was established in 1976, and independence from the UK came two years later. Current issues include government deficits, deforestation, and malaria control.

• typhoons, but they are rarely destructive;
• geologically active region with frequent earth tremors;
• volcanic activity

• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• much of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

signed, but not ratified:

Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

0-14 years:

45% (male 103,844; female 99,972)

15-64 years:

52% (male 120,518; female 117,298)

65 years and over:

3% (male 6,808; female 6,989) (1999 est.)

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.97 male(s)/female

total population:

1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

total population:

72.09 years

male:

69.55 years

female:

74.75 years (1999 est.)

noun:

Solomon Islander(s)

adjective:

Solomon Islander

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Solomon Islands

former:

British Solomon Islands

chief of state:

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Moses PITAKAKA (since 10 June 1994)

head of government:

Prime Minister Bartholomew ULUFA'ALU (since 27 August 1997); Deputy Prime Minister Sir Baddeley DEVESI (since 27 August 1997)

cabinet:

Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of Parliament

elections:

• none;
• the monarch is hereditary;
• governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of Parliament for up to five years;
• following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is 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

• characterized by fluid coalitions;
• TAUSINGA] (leader of opposition);
• People's Alliance Party or PAP

chief of mission:

Ambassador Stephen Rex HOROI (represents the country as both the Permanent Representative to the UN and the ambassador to the US)

chancery:

800 Second Avenue, Suite 400L, New York, NY 10017

• 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

agriculture:

NA%

industry:

NA%

services:

NA%

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

• cocoa, beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit;
• cattle, pigs;
• timber;
• fish

domestic:

NA

international:

satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

total:

1,360 km

paved:

34 km

unpaved:

1,326 km (includes about 800 km of private plantation roads) (1996 est.)

• no regular military forces;
• Solomon Islands National Reconnaissance and Surveillance Force;
• Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP)