Solomon Islands

• typhoons, but rarely destructive;
• geologically active region with frequent earthquakes, tremors, and volcanic activity;
• tsunamis

volcanism:

Tinakula (elev. 851 m, 2,792 ft) has frequent eruption activity, while an eruption of Savo (elev. 485 m, 1,591 ft) could affect the capital Honiara on nearby Guadalcanal

• 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

• strategic location on sea routes between the South Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea;
• on 2 April 2007 an undersea earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale occurred 345 km WNW of the capital Honiara;
• the resulting tsunami devastated coastal areas of Western and Choiseul provinces with dozens of deaths and thousands dislocated;
• the provincial capital of Gizo was especially hard hit

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:

0.89 male(s)/female

total population:

1.02 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

noun:

Solomon Islander(s)

adjective:

Solomon Islander

• Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca;
• English (official but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population);
• 120 indigenous languages

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Solomon Islands

local long form:

none

local short form:

Solomon Islands

former:

British Solomon Islands

name:

Honiara

geographic coordinates:

9 26 S, 159 57 E

time difference:

UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

chief of state:

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Frank KABUI (since 7 July 2009)

head of government:

Prime Minister Danny PHILIP (since 25 August 2010)

cabinet:

Cabinet consists of 20 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of parliament; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)

elections:

• the monarchy is hereditary;
• governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of parliament for up to five years (eligible for a second term);
• following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition 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 Independent Members or AIM [Thomas CHAN];
• Christian Alliance Solomon Islands or CASI [Edward RONIA];
• LAFARI Party [John GARO];
• National Party [Francis HILLY];
• People's Alliance Party or PAP [Sir Allan KEMAKEZA];
• Social Credit Party or SOCRED [Manasseh Damukana SOGAVARE];
• Solomon First Party [David QUAN];
• Solomon Islands Democratic Party [Gabriel SURI];
• Solomon Islands Labor Party or SILP [Joses TUHANUKU];
• Solomon Islands Liberal Party [Bartholomew ULUFA'ALU];
• Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement or SIPRA [Job D. TAUSINGA];
• United Party [Sir Peter KENILOREA]

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

• Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM);
• Malaita Eagle Force (MEF);
• note - these rival armed ethnic factions crippled the Solomon Islands in a wave of violence from 1999 to 2003

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

• 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;
• blue represents the ocean;
• green the land;
• and yellow sunshine;
• the five stars stand for the five main island groups of the Solomon Islands

name:

"God Save Our Solomon Islands"

lyrics/music:

Panapasa BALEKANA and Matila BALEKANA/Panapasa BALEKANA

note: adopted 1978

agriculture:

75%

industry:

5%

services:

20% (2000 est.)

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

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

general assessment:

NA

domestic:

mobile-cellular telephone density is about 5 telephones per 100 persons

international:

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

• Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) is the sole TV broadcaster with 1 station;
• multi-channel pay-TV is available;
• SIBC, the public service broadcaster, operates 2 national radio stations and 2 provincial stations;
• 2 local commercial radio stations operating;
• Radio Australia is obtainable via satellite feed (2009)

total:

1,360 km

country comparison to the world: 177

paved:

33 km

unpaved:

1,327 km

note: includes 800 km of private plantation roads (2002)

males age 16-49:

125,928

females age 16-49:

126,999 (2010 est.)

male:

7,256

female:

6,995 (2010 est.)