Solomon Islands

The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the most bitter fighting of World War II occurred on these islands. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence two years later. Ethnic violence, government malfeasance, and endemic crime have undermined stability and civil society.

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

• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• many 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:

43.4% (male 109,339; female 105,170)

15-64 years:

53.5% (male 134,125; female 130,804)

65 years and over:

3.1% (male 7,467; female 7,881) (2002 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:

0.95 male(s)/female

total population:

1.03 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

total population:

71.82 years

female:

74.39 years (2002 est.)

male:

69.38 years

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 Sir John LAPLI (since NA 1999)

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

cabinet:

Cabinet consists of 20 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of Parliament

head of government:

Prime Minister Allan KEMAKEZA (since 17 December 2001); Deputy Prime Minister Snyder RINI (since 17 December 2001)

• Association of Independents [Snyder RINI];
• People's Alliance Party or PAP [Allan KEMAKEZA];
• People's Progressive Party or PPP [Mannaseh Damukana SOGAVARE];
• Solomon Islands Alliance for Change Coalition or SIACC [Bartholomew ULUFA'ALU];
• Solomon Islands Labor Party or SILP [Joses TUHANUKU]

note: in general, Solomon Islands politics is characterized by fluid coalitions

chief of mission:

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jeremiah MANELE

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%

revenues:

$38 million (2001)

expenditures:

$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)

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

general assessment:

NA

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)