1970 Solomon Islands general election

General elections were held in the Solomon Islands in May and June 1970, the first to the new Governing Council. Most candidates ran as independents.[1]

Background

The new Governing Council consisted of seventeen elected members (increased from fourteen in the Legislative Council), six civil servants (down from twelve) and three ex officio members, the first time a Solomon Islands legislature had an elected majority. The Council was to be chaired by the High Commissioner.[2]

Rather than introducing cabinet government, the new constitution provided for government by committee, which was deemed more in line with Melanesian culture of reaching agreement by consensus rather than majority vote. The Governing Council had five committees, which were responsible for Communications and Works, Education and Social Welfare, Finance, Health and Internal Affairs, and Natural Resources.[3]

Results

Constituency Candidate Votes % Notes
Ngella/Savo/RussellsEdmond Kiva1,05451.12Elected
Cecil Wilson Maneau45622.11
Silas Niavuni21310.33
John Plant Hoka1768.54
Jason Dorovolomo1637.90
Total2,062100
Choiseul/ShortlandsRemesio Eresi77839.35Elected
Binet Gadebeta52026.30
Moses Puibangara Pitakaka50625.59
John Macdonald1738.75
Total1,977100
East GuadalcanalLeone Laku44237.94Elected
Joseph Bryan42236.22
Joel Kikolo14612.53
David Valusa897.64
William Norman Tasker665.67
Total1,165100
South GuadalcanalGeorge PugevaUnopposed
West GuadalcanalAlfred Maeke46531.61Elected
Bara Buchanan34523.45
David Thuguvoda33722.91
Matthew Belamataga32422.03
Total1,471100
HoniaraPeter Salaka87457.92Elected
Peter Kenilorea32721.67
Peter Smith30820.41
Total1,509100
Santa IsabelWillie Betu1,42372.53Elected
Daniel Denys Maile53927.47
Total1,962100
MakiraSolomon Mamaloni1,28646.95Elected
Geoffrey Kuper1,28046.73
Nathaniel Rahumae Waena1736.32
Total2,739100
Central MalaitaJonathan Fiifii'i61336.47Elected
Daniel Foasifobae44226.29
Peter Taloni28416.89
Nelson Kifo17310.29
Calisto Kobiloko16910.05
Total1,681100
North Central MalaitaPeter Kerr Thompson1,44171.23Elected
John Maetia Kaliuae58228.77
Total2,023100
North East MalaitaMariano Kelesi89966.74Elected
Dudley Kiriau44833.26
Total1,347100
North MalaitaClement Kiriau Ofai65759.35Elected
Jotham Ausuta45040.65
Total1,107100
South Central MalaitaDavid Kausimae1,55291.08Elected
Eliel Ahikau1528.92
Total1,704100
South MalaitaAnthony Saru54441.24Elected
Aziel Laealaha48937.07
George Garnet28621.68
Total1,319100
Eastern Outer IslandsTAC HepwerthElected
P Bagira
David Dawea Taukalo
Jason Melake
Total
New GeorgiaSamuel Kuku1,15455.37Elected
Frank Wickham62429.94
George Pina Lilo24711.85
Aaron Ben592.83
Total2,084100
Vella Lavella/KolombangaraGordon Siama93845.51Elected
Belshazzar Gina50724.60
Bruce Ragoso38018.44
George Talasasa23611.45
Total2,061100
Registered voters/turnout51,904
Source: Election Passport

Appointed members

Position Member
Ex officioActing Chief SecretaryR. Davies
Attorney-GeneralD.R. Davis
Financial SecretaryJ. H. Smith
OfficialCommissioner of LabourB.C. Wilmot
Commissioner of Lands and SurveysJ.B. Twomney
Director of AgricultureF.M. Spenser
Director of EducationA.G.H. House
Director of Medical ServicesJ.D. Macgregor
Director of Public WorksW.A. Wood
Source: Solomons Encyclopaedia

Aftermath

The newly elected Council met for the first time on 15 July. Gordon Siama was appointed chair of the Communications and Works committee, Willie Betu became chair of the Education and Social Welfare committee, Tom Russell (Financial Secretary) became chair of the Finance committee, Roy Davies was appointed chair of the Health and Internal Affairs committee, and David Kausimae became chair of the Natural Resources committee.[4]

Joseph Bryan, who lost by 20 votes in East Guadalcanal, lodged a petition against the election results, claiming that the votes cast at two polling stations had been rejected as they contained markings that could identify the voter.[4] The High Court heard the petition on 10 August; with the Returning Officer and winning candidate Leone Laku failing to lodge objections, the court annulled the result and ordered a by-election to be held.[5] The by-election took place on 10 October, with Bryan winning with 977 votes; Laku finished second with 362.[6]

In 1971 Silas Sitai was appointed 'shadow chairman', becoming the first Speaker of the legislature.[7]

References

  1. Decolonization United Nations
  2. Two kinds of democracy (1) Solomons Pacific Islands Monthly, February 1970, p25
  3. Politics experiments going soon in Solomons Pacific Islands Monthly, June 1970, pp26–27
  4. The Solomons has 'its own thing' – but it's not 'Goodbye Britain' Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1970, pp18–20
  5. Islanders feel their way in the new Solomons council Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1970, p19
  6. Solomons elections Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1970, p3
  7. The Solomons (Speaker appointed) talks of independence in 1975 Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1971, pp23–24
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