Solomon Islands

The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the bitterest fighting of World War II occurred on these islands. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence 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, Desertification, 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:

44% (male 105,024; female 101,065)

15-64 years:

53% (male 124,627; female 121,358)

65 years and over:

3% (male 6,935; female 7,185) (2000 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 (2000 est.)

total population:

71.28 years

male:

68.86 years

female:

73.81 years (2000 est.)

noun:

Solomon Islander(s)

adjective:

Solomon Islander

definition:

NA

total population:

NA%

male:

NA%

female:

NA%

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 Father John LAPLI (since NA 1999)

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;
• Christian Fellowship [leader NA];
• Group for National Unity and Reconciliation or GNUR [leader NA];
• Labor Party or LP [Joses TUHANUKU];
• Liberal Party [Bartholomew ULUFA'ALU];
• National Action Party of Solomon Islands or NAPSI [leader NA];
• National Party [leader NA];
• Nationalist Front for Progress or NFP [Andrew NORI];
• People's Alliance Party or PAP [leader NA];
• Solomon Islands Labor Party or SILP [leader NA];
• Solomon Islands National Unity, Reconciliation, and Progressive Party or SINURP [Job Duddley TAUSINGA] (leader of opposition);
• United Party or UP [leader NA]

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

telephone:

[1] (212) 599-6192, 6193

FAX:

[1] (212) 661-8925

• 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

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)