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1970 Solomon Islands general election

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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

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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

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Constituency Candidate Votes % Notes
Central Malaita Jonathan Fiifii'i 613 36.47 Elected
Daniel Foasifobae 442 26.29
Peter Taloni 284 16.89 Unseated
Nelson Kifo 173 10.29
Calisto Kobiloko 169 10.05
Total 1,681 100
Choiseul/Shortlands Remesio Eresi 778 36.36 Elected
Binet Gadebeta 520 24.30
Moses Puibangara Pitakaka 506 23.64
John Macdonald 173 8.08
Jason Dorovolomo 163 7.62
Total 2,140 100
East Guadalcanal Leone Laku 442 37.94 Re-elected
Joseph Bryan 422 36.22
Joel Kikolo 146 12.53
David Valusa 89 7.64
William Norman Tasker 66 5.67
Total 1,165 100
Eastern Outer Islands David Dawea Taukalo Elected by electoral college
P Bagira
TAC Hepwerth
Jason Melake
Total
Honiara Peter Salaka 874 57.92 Elected
Peter Kenilorea 327 21.67
Peter Smith 308 20.41
Total 1,509 100
Makira Solomon Mamaloni 1,286 46.95 Elected
Geoffrey Kuper 1,280 46.73
Nathaniel Rahumae Waena 173 6.32
Total 2,739 100
New Georgia Samuel Kuku 1,154 55.37 Elected
Frank Wickham 624 29.94
George Pina Lilo 247 11.85
Aaron Ben 59 2.83
Total 2,084 100
Ngella/Savo/Russells Edmond Kiva 1,054 55.50 Elected
Cecil Wilson Maneau 456 24.01
Silas Niavuni 213 11.22
John Plant Hoka 176 9.27 Unseated
Total 1,899 100
North Central Malaita Peter Kerr Thompson 1,441 71.23 Re-elected
John Maetia Kaliuae 582 28.77
Total 2,023 100
North East Malaita Mariano Kelesi 899 66.74 Re-elected
Dudley Kiriau 448 33.26
Total 1,347 100
North Malaita Clement Kiriau Ofai 657 59.35 Re-elected
Jotham Ausuta 450 40.65
Total 1,107 100
Santa Isabel Willie Betu 1,423 72.53 Re-elected
Daniel Denys Maile 539 27.47
Total 1,962 100
South Central Malaita David Kausimae 1,552 91.08 Re-elected
Eliel Ahikau 152 8.92
Total 1,704 100
South Guadalcanal George Pugeva Elected unopposed
South Malaita Anthony Saru 544 41.24 Elected
Aziel Laealaha 489 37.07
George Garnet 286 21.68
Total 1,319 100
Vella Lavella/Kolombangara Gordon Siama 938 45.51 Elected
Belshazzar Gina 507 24.60
Bruce Ragoso 380 18.44
George Talasasa 236 11.45
Total 2,061 100
West Guadalcanal Alfred Maeke 465 31.61 Elected
Bara Buchanan 345 23.45
David Thuguvoda 337 22.91
Matthew Belamataga 324 22.03
Total 1,471 100
Registered voters/turnout 51,904
Source: Social Science Research Network,[4] Election Passport[5]

Appointed members

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Position Member
Ex officio Acting Chief Secretary R. Davies
Attorney-General D.R. Davis
Financial Secretary J. H. Smith
Official Commissioner of Labour B.C. Wilmot
Commissioner of Lands and Surveys J.B. Twomney
Director of Agriculture F.M. Spenser
Director of Education A.G.H. House
Director of Medical Services J.D. Macgregor
Director of Public Works W.A. Wood
Source: Solomons Encyclopaedia

Aftermath

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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.[6]

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.[6] 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.[7] The by-election took place on 10 October, with Bryan winning with 977 votes; Laku finished second with 362.[8]

In 1971 Silas Sitai was appointed 'shadow chairman', becoming the first Speaker of the legislature.[9]

References

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  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. ^ Wood, Terence (1 May 2014). "Solomon Islands Election Results 1967-2013". Social Science Research Network.
  5. ^ Election Passport
  6. ^ a b The Solomons has 'its own thing' – but it's not 'Goodbye Britain' Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1970, pp18–20
  7. ^ Islanders feel their way in the new Solomons council Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1970, p19
  8. ^ Solomons elections Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1970, p3
  9. ^ The Solomons (Speaker appointed) talks of independence in 1975 Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1971, pp23–24