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New Year's Eve 1992 Brought Havoc to the Southeastern POLITICAL REVIEWS 457 SaHu, Yaw. 1993. A Current Example of tainty. The national general election Policy-Making on the Trot in Papua New took place on 26 May 1993. Seats in Guinea. Paper presented at Pacific Islands each of the 47 constituencies through­ Political Studies Association conference, out the country were contested by Rarotonga, 5 December. some 280 candidates. The state of Togarewa, Neville. 1993a. Lihir a "Goer." uncertainty lasted for some time after PC, 24 May, II. the results were announced over na­ tional radio. Solomon Mamaloni's --. 1993b. Government Sets Saturday party of National Unity won the most Deadline for Talks on Lihir. PC, 29 July, 3. seats, but with only 21 of the total of47 --. 1993c. 50 pct Equity Decision Is it did not have a clear majority. Of the Final. pc, 13 August, 5I. other parties, the People's Alliance Party led by Nathaniel Waena won 7 TPNG, Times ofPapua New Guinea. Weekly. Port Moresby. seats; the new National Action Party of Solomon Islands (Francis Saemala) and the United Party (Ezekiel Alebua) won 5 each; the Labour Party (loses Tuha­ SOLOMON ISLANDS nuku) won 4; the National Front for New Year's Eve 1992 brought havoc to Progress (Andrew Nori) and the new the southeastern parts of Solomon Solomon Islands Leaders Fellowship Islands as Cyclone Nina passed (Reverend Michael Maeliau) won 2 through. Parts ofMalaita, South each; and 1 was won by an indepen­ Guadalcanal, Makira, Temotu, and dent (Francis Billy Hilly). A coalition Rennell and Bellona were devastated. government had to be formed. For the people in these islands, a sea­ Uncertainty and political specula­ son of celebration and reflection tion were fueled by strong indications became overnight a time ofdisaster that veteran politician and incumbent and lost hopes. Homes and schools had Prime Minister Solomon Mamaloni to be rebuilt, new gardens had to be and his party might lose their parlia­ cleared, and short-term assistance was mentary majority. The first sign of necessary. The much-needed assistance impending doom for Mamaloni came was given promptly when the whole with the election for Speaker of the nation pitched in and, with some help House, which was held a few weeks from other governments and organiza­ after the general election and before tions, pledged SI$L5 million toward the that for the new prime minister. In the government's rehabilitation program election for the Speaker, the two con­ (ss, March 1993). As in the aftermath tending groups, the Government for ofother natural disasters, Solomon National Unity led by Mamaloni and Islanders looked to the future with the National Coalition Partnership optimism as they rebuilt their homes, group whose leader was yet to be churches, and schools, and hoped for named, fielded their respective candi­ better fortune in the year to come. dates. Waita Ben, who was then Another kind ofstorm-a political Speaker, was the nominee ofthe Gov­ one-was awaited with equal uncer- ernment for National Unity, and Paul THE CONTEMPORARY PACIFIC. FALL 1994 Tovua, who had just lost his Malango and became the leader ofthe indepen­ (central Guadalcanal) constituency dent group in Parliament. In this sec­ seat, was nominated by the National ond term, he became deputy prime Coalition. When Paul Tovua was minister and served as minister for the elected Speaker, political gurus were Ministry ofHome Affairs in a coalition left with little doubt that, if the coali­ government led by Peter Kenilorea. In tion (especially its new members) held August 1981, Hilly resigned from the together and survived the intense lob­ coalition, serving as an ordinary mem­ bying, political intrigue, and wantok ber, and did not seek reelection in the manipulations that characterized the 1984 elections. Instead, he successfully period leading to the election for prime ran in the Western Province elections minister, it would have a chance to lead and became president of the Western the next government. When the votes Provincial Assembly. In 1989, he ran for prime minister were counted, Ma­ unsuccessfully for the National Parlia­ maloni's party for National Unity was ment. At the time ofthe elections in ousted by the narrowest margin since May 1993, he was running a family independence-24 votes to 23. On 18 business. June, a new government was formed, One ofthe chief aims ofthe parties led by the 45-year-old member for that made up the coalition was to oust Ranongga and Simbo, the Honourable Mamaloni's strong Government of Francis Billy Hilly. National Unity, and they closed ranks The new coalition government con­ to do it. Among other matters, such as sists ofthe existing parties-Peoples' allegations of corruption, the Mama­ Alliance Party, United Party, Labour loni government appeared to have Party, National Front for Progress­ allowed prime land sites in and around and the independent member, plus two the capital to be bought and occupied new parties-the National Action by foreign investors. Eager to change PaIty ofthe Solomon Islands and the the situation, and guided by their new Solomon Islands Leaders Fellowship. vision and new policies, the coalition (Though a political anomaly, the last was determined to lead the country and insisted it not be called a political carry the developmental trajectory in a party.) different direction. Though Hilly was new as prime The new government led by Francis minister, a post dominated by Solomon Billy Hilly did not acquire political Mamaloni or Sir Peter Kenilorea since power without having its mettle tested 1974, he was not a novice in politics. and its unity shaken. From the begin­ After a Bachelor's degree from the Uni­ ning, the Mamaloni camp gave clear versity ofthe South Pacific and almost indications that power would not be two years of employment with the gov­ yielded easily; a catalogue of election ernment and the Solomon Trading petitions was lodged in the High Court Company, Hilly entered politics in and political horse-trading ensued. The June 1976 as member ofParliament for election petitions included one by Ranongga and Simbo. He was returned Mamaloni himself, challenging the for a second term in the 1980 elections legality ofHilly's majority and that his POLITICAL REVIEWS 459 election as prime minister was uncon­ ofreforms as well as immediate and stitutional (sv, Oct 1993). The High long-term priorities. The immediate Court settled in favor of Hilly. As if goals include investigation into corrup­ this were not enough, Dennis Lulei, tion, malpractice, and abuse ofpower; leader of the Alliance Party in Parlia­ establishment of a new national plan­ ment and new minister for education, ning strategy; effective control and use was terminated by the coalition leaders of government assets and utilities; for insurbordination after challenging review ofpermanent secretaries; the government's leadership and deci­ review ofthe taxing regimes; review of sions. And Allan Paul resigned from the provincial establishments; conven­ the Hilly government but later decided ing ofeconomic, religious, and youth to rejoin. summits; reengagement of doctors who Despite these wrangles, things had earlier resigned; formulation of a seemed to be settling down as months new foreign assistance policy; and passed and most of the petitions to the review and assessment of Solomon High Court failed, and the coalition's Islands' overseas representation. A position appeared much more secure. ministerial consultative committee will Because of the nature ofpolitics in monitor the implementation ofthese Solomon Islands, where allegiance can policies. change overnight, a former member of The long-term goals include self­ the Government of National Unity, reliance, decentralization, and im­ Walter Folotalu, accepted the portfolio provement of government services left vacant by the withdrawal ofDennis around the country. The economic pol­ Lulei to become minister ofeducation. icy ofthe government is designed to A successful petition against the mem­ promote self-reliance. Importantly, ber for East Honiara, the Honourable government assistance to rural areas is Charles Dausabea (a spokesman for guided by the principle of self-reliance the Government ofNational Unity and is not viewed as a government group and a staunch supporter of Solo­ handout. The decentralization strategy mon Mamaloni), alleging illegality of involves maximizing linkages to the voting practices, further strengthened rural masses and requires the develop­ the coalition's position. At the end of ment of a new decentralizing formula the year, it was again strengthened by to allow a more direct and meaningful the approval ofthree additional minis­ sharing ofideas, powers, and responsi­ tries during the December sitting of bilities with traditional leaders and Parliament, and the Mamaloni camp resource owners (villagers who are seemed resigned to their defeat, if not landowners) throughout the country. exhausted. All ofthese power struggles Hilly's government recognizes the took up a good six months, which the importance ofthe resource owners to government could have put to better the country and believes they should be use in serving the country and its afforded maximum benefits from their people. resources. On the domestic front, the coalition In support ofits goal to improve government's policies include a number government services, the coalition gov- -lW..&biii*WA.9mIiEMSWJII,4t¥@§A§'P#@tit4U gg;; M4h Hlf,. THE CONTEMPORARY PACIFIC. FALL 1994 ernment hopes to improve and expand closed down and replaced with a peace health services
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