Solomon Islands

• 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

0-14 years:

42.4% (male 113,183; female 108,816)

15-64 years:

54.4% (male 144,157; female 140,769)

65 years and over:

3.2% (male 8,058; female 8,634) (2004 est.)

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.93 male(s)/female

total population:

1.03 male(s)/female (2004 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 Nathaniel WAENA (since 7 July 2004)

head of government:

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

cabinet:

Cabinet consists of 20 members 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

• 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 Collin David BECK

chancery:

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

telephone:

[1] (212) 599-6192, 6193

FAX:

[1] (212) 661-8925

• the US does not have an embassy in Solomon Islands (embassy closed July 1993);
• the ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Ambassador Robert W. FITTS, is accredited to the Solomon Islands

• 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

• June 2003 Prime Minister Sir Allen KEMAKEZA sought the intervention of Australia to aid in restoring order;
• parliament approved the request for intervention in July 2003;
• troops from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga arrived 24 July 2003

lowest 10%:

NA

highest 10%:

NA

revenues:

$38 million

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:

country code - 677; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

total:

1,360 km

paved:

34 km

unpaved:

1,326 km (1999 est.)

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