by-election
A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, a bye-election in Ireland, a bypoll in India, or a Zimni election (Urdu: ضمنی انتخاب, supplementary election) in Pakistan, is an election used to f ...
constituency
An electoral district, also known as an election district, legislative district, voting district, constituency, riding, ward, division, or (election) precinct is a subdivision of a larger State (polity), state (a country, administrative region, ...
in
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is an island country consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania, to the east of Papua New Guinea and north-west of Vanuatu. It has a land area of , and a population of approx. 700,000. Its capita ...
on 1 August 2012. It was initially scheduled for the month of March, then delayed.
In the August 2010 general election, the seat was won by
independent
Independent or Independents may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups
* Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s
* Independ ...
candidate Jimmy "Rasta" Lusibaea, a former warlord during the ethnic unrest of 1999-2003. He was appointed Minister for Fisheries by new Prime Minister Danny Philip. Lusibaea lost his seat on 30 November 2010 upon being sentenced to two years and nine months in gaol for assault and grievous bodily harm, for events committed during the unrest. On 20 January 2011, the Minister for Police,
James Tora
James Tora (born 16 July 1956 in Hunuta Village, Ugi IslandsOfficial biography ...
, remitted Lusibaea's sentence to one month, using his discretion as Minister under section 38 of the ''Correctional Service Act''. Consequently, Lusibaea was no longer barred from occupying his seat, and resumed his functions in Parliament. On 17 October, the High Court ruled that the remit did not amount to a court-sanctioned reduction in sentence, and Lusibaea lost his seat once more, necessitating a by-election.
In early April 2012, the by-election having not yet been held, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs
Manasseh Maelanga
Manasseh Maelanga (born March 25, 1970) is a member of the National Parliament of the Solomon Islands. He represents East Malaita constituency.
In May 2009, he was named Minister for Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening in Prime ...
explained that there was legal uncertainty as to whether Lusibaea could stand as a candidate. This was also affecting the scheduled by-election in East ꞌAreꞌare, in which MP
Andrew Hanaria
Andrew is the English form of a given name common in many countries. In the 1990s, it was among the top ten most popular names given to boys in List of countries where English is an official language, English-speaking countries. "Andrew" is freq ...
had lost his seat upon having been found to have bribed voters, but was seeking to stand for reelection. Maelanga stated that legal advice was being sought from the Attorney General, who was abroad, before a date for the two by-elections could be set.
On 20 June, a date was finally announced for the by-election. The ten candidates were as follows. They included a former MP for the constituency, Danny Fa'afunua; and Fredrick Kwanairara, the 28-year-old son of former North Malaita MP Daniel Enele Kwanairara. Jimmy Lusibaea was "barred from re-contesting the by-elections because he asstill serving his sentence outside of prison", but his wife, Vika Lusibaea, stood in his place.
won the seat by a large margin, becoming only the second ever woman to be elected to the
National Parliament of Solomon Islands
The National Parliament of Solomon Islands has 50 members, elected for a four-year term in 50 single-seat constituencies.
It is presided by a Speaker, currently Patterson Oti.
Latest elections
Members
The official website of the National ...
, following
Hilda Kari
Hilda Thugea Kari (born Hilda Thugea Auvi in 1949 Women in Leadership) is a
in the 1990s. There was some slight controversy over her victory, critics drawing attention to the fact she was a Fiji-born naturalized citizen, and to her "limited literacy skills". The full results are as follows:"Governor General Congratulates New Parlimentarians" ''Solomon Times'', 7 August 2012
See also
*
List of Solomon Islands by-elections
This is a list of by-elections to the National Parliament of Solomon Islands since the First Parliament in 1976, with the names of the incumbent and victor and (when known) their respective parties. Where seats changed political party at the el ...
References
{{Reflist
2012
File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gather ...
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is an island country consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania, to the east of Papua New Guinea and north-west of Vanuatu. It has a land area of , and a population of approx. 700,000. Its capita ...