Shadow Cabinet of Solomon Islands
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| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of the Solomon Islands |
The Shadow Cabinet of Solomon Islands is the parliamentary Opposition's alternative Cabinet in Solomon Islands. Solomon Islands is a Commonwealth realm with a Westminster system of government; the Shadow Cabinet is modelled on the British institution of the same name.
The Opposition is formally known as "Her Majesty’s Official Opposition".[1]
Current Shadow Cabinet
The current Shadow Cabinet was appointed by Opposition Leader Steve Abana on 31 August 2010, following the general election on 4 August, and Abana's unsuccessful attempt to be elected to the premiership. It shadows Prime Minister Danny Philip's coalition Cabinet.[2] Abana's Shadow Cabinet is also a coalition, albeit primarily composed of members of the Democratic Party.[3]
Stanley Sofu, initially appointed Shadow Minister for Infrastructure Development, defected to the government in December 2010.[4]
On 20 January 2011, citing dissatisfaction with the Cabinet being "manipulated by one or two people", Bodo Dettke (Minister for Fisheries), Douglas Ete (Minister for Forestry), Martin Sopage (Minister for Lands and Housing) and Mark Kemakeza (Minister for Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification) all left the government and formally joined Abana's Opposition. It was not immediately made clear what positions they might be given in a Shadow Cabinet reshuffle.[5][6]
In late March 2011, Abana resigned from the leadership of the Opposition, reportedly under pressure from certain members, and Derek Sikua was elected by Opposition MPs to replace him. A week later, Abana defected to the government, along with four other members of the Opposition (Ricky Houeniopwela, Andrew Hanaria Keniasia, Connelly Sandakabatu and Peter Tom). This split reportedly brought the Opposition numbers down to just six, of which Opposition leader Derek Sikua and his deputy Matthew Wale.[7][8][9]
| Shadow Portfolio | Shadow Minister | Political party[10] | Constituency[11] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leader of the Opposition; Minister for Public Service |
Steve Abana | Democratic Party | Fataleka |
| Deputy Shadow Prime Minister; Minister for Education and Human Resources Development; Shadow Minister for the Environment, Conservation and Meteorology |
Matthew Wale | Democratic Party | Aoke-Langalanga |
| Shadow Minister for Home Affairs | Peter Tom | Democratic Party | West Kwaio |
| Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Livestock | Connolly Sandagapatu | Independent | North-West Choiseul |
| Shadow Minister for Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration | John Maneniaru | Independent | West 'Are'are |
| Shadow Minister for Communication and Aviation; Shadow Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional services |
Walter Folotalu | Democratic Party | Lau/Mbaelelea |
| Shadow Minister for Culture and Tourism | Seth Gukuna | Independent | Rennell-Bellona |
| Shadow Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources | Andrew Hanaria Keniasina | People's Congress Party | East 'Are'are |
| Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade; Shadow Minister for Justice and Legal Affairs |
Milner Tozaka | People's Alliance Party | North Vella Lavella |
| Shadow Minister for Forestry | Job Dudley Tausinga | Party for Rural Advancement | North New Georgia |
| Shadow Minister for Health and Medical Services | Dickson Mua Panakitasi | OUR Party | Savo-Russels |
| Shadow Minister for Infrastructure Development | ? | - | - |
| Shadow Minister for Lands, Housing and Survey; Shadow Minister for National Planning and Aid Coordination |
Manasseh Sogavare | OUR Party | East Choiseul |
| Shadow Minister for Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification | David Dei Pacha | Democratic Party | South Guadalcanal |
| Shadow Minister for National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace | Sam Iduri | Democratic Party | West Kwara'ae |
| Shadow Minister for Provincial Government and Institutional strengthening | Alfred Ghiro | Democratic Party | East Makira |
| Shadow Minister for Rural Development and Indigenous Affairs | Moses Garu | Democratic Party | West Guadalcanal |
| Shadow Minister for Women, Youth and Children Affairs | Silas Tausinga | Party for Rural Advancement | West New Georgia |
| Shadow Minister for Finance and the Treasury | Rick Houenipwela | Democratic Party | Small Malaita |
References
- ↑ "Tausinga: I'm with opposition", Solomon Star, 24 January 2011
- ↑ "Abana is new Opposition leader", Solomon Star, 1 September 2010
- ↑ 2010 election data, Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation
- ↑ "Bodo picks up fisheries", Solomon Star, 9 December 2010
- ↑ "Ministers walkout", Solomon Star, 21 January 2010
- ↑ "Four MPs Desert Government", Solomon Times, 21 January 2010
- ↑ "Solomon Islands' PM stronger after opposition walkouts", ABC Radio Australia, 7 April 2011
- ↑ "Rick Hou Joins Government", Solomon Times, 7 April 2011
- ↑ "Govt builds numbers", Solomon Star, 7 April 2011
- ↑ 2010 election data, Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation
- ↑ Official results by constituency, 2010 general election, Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation