Clay Forau Soalaoi
Encyclopedia
Clay Forau Soalaoi, more commonly referred to as Clay Forau, (born 10 October 1976) is a Solomon Islands
politician.
He was first elected to Parliament, representing the Temotu Vatud constituency, at the 2006 general election
, in April. From 22 April to 5 May, he served briefly as Minister for Justice and Legal Affairs, under Prime Minister Snyder Rini
. When Rini was forced to resign in the face of public protests and a motion of no confidence
, Forau supported his successor Manasseh Sogavare
, and was appointed Minister for Health and Medical Services. He was also a member of Sogavare's Social Credit Party
. He held this position until December 2007, when Prime Minister Sogavare was himself ousted in a vote of no confidence and Derek Sikua
named a new Cabinet
.
In January 2008, he was appointed chairman of the Constitution Review Committee.
In June 2009, Forau replaced Martin Magga
as Minister for Health and Medical Services. The latter was "relieved of his ministerial duties on medical grounds" after being hospitalized in Australia
and placed on life support.
Retaining his seat in the August 2010 general election
, in which he stood as a member of the People's Federation Party, he nonetheless lost his seat in Cabinet. Rather than join the Opposition, he was elected Leader of the Independent Members of Parliament
on 30 August. In early April 2011, however, he relinquished this position to join the ranks of the government. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services.
On November 9, 2011, he resigned and joined the Opposition, as part of a mass defection which brought down the Philip government two days later. Gordon Darcy Lilo replaced Philip as Prime Minister on November 16, and reappointed Forau to his previous position five days later.
Forau lives in Tikopia
.
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
politician.
He was first elected to Parliament, representing the Temotu Vatud constituency, at the 2006 general election
Solomon Islands general election, 2006
General elections were held on 5 April 2006 in the Solomon Islands. No party managed to win more than four of the fifty seats, while thirty seats went to independent candidates. A number of those subsequently formed an Association of Independent Members of Parliament, with Snyder Rini as their leader...
, in April. From 22 April to 5 May, he served briefly as Minister for Justice and Legal Affairs, under Prime Minister Snyder Rini
Snyder Rini
Snyder Rini is a Solomon Islands politician who was briefly the eighth Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands from April to May 2006 and has been Minister for Finance and Treasury since December 2007...
. When Rini was forced to resign in the face of public protests and a motion of no confidence
Motion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
, Forau supported his successor Manasseh Sogavare
Manasseh Sogavare
Manasseh Damukana Sogavare was the sixth Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands from 2000 to 2001 and again from 2006 to 2007. He has served in the National Parliament as Member for East Choiseul since 1997, and he is currently the Leader of the Opposition.-Biography:Sogavare was Permanent...
, and was appointed Minister for Health and Medical Services. He was also a member of Sogavare's Social Credit Party
Solomon Islands Social Credit Party
The Solomon Islands Social Credit Party is a political party in the Solomon Islands that espouses social credit theories of monetary reform....
. He held this position until December 2007, when Prime Minister Sogavare was himself ousted in a vote of no confidence and Derek Sikua
Derek Sikua
David Derek Sikua served as the ninth Prime Minister of Solomon Islands from December 20, 2007 to August 25, 2010. He is a member of the Solomon Islands Liberal Party.-Career:Sikua is from Ngalitavethi Village in Guadalcanal Province...
named a new Cabinet
Cabinet of the Solomon Islands
The Cabinet of Solomon Islands is the cabinet of the government of Solomon Islands. Solomon Islands has a Westminster system of government.-Current Cabinet:...
.
In January 2008, he was appointed chairman of the Constitution Review Committee.
In June 2009, Forau replaced Martin Magga
Martin Magga
Martin Magga is a member of the National Parliament of the Solomon Islands. He served as the Solomon Islands' Minister of Lands, Housing and Survey in Prime Minister Derek Sikua's Cabinet until May 2009, when he was transferred to the position of Minister for Health and Medical Services.As...
as Minister for Health and Medical Services. The latter was "relieved of his ministerial duties on medical grounds" after being hospitalized in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and placed on life support.
Retaining his seat in the August 2010 general election
Solomon Islands general election, 2010
A general election was held in the Solomon Islands on 4 August 2010. In May 2010, Prime Minister Derek Sikua announced that the election would be held on 4 August, however, this announcement was deemed to be premature, as only the Governor General has the authority to announce the election date...
, in which he stood as a member of the People's Federation Party, he nonetheless lost his seat in Cabinet. Rather than join the Opposition, he was elected Leader of the Independent Members of Parliament
Leader of the Independent Members
The Leader of the Independent Members, also referred to as Leader of the Independent Group, is a Member of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands who is officially recognised as leader of a group of MPs who are aligned neither with the government nor with the Official Opposition.The position is...
on 30 August. In early April 2011, however, he relinquished this position to join the ranks of the government. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services.
On November 9, 2011, he resigned and joined the Opposition, as part of a mass defection which brought down the Philip government two days later. Gordon Darcy Lilo replaced Philip as Prime Minister on November 16, and reappointed Forau to his previous position five days later.
Forau lives in Tikopia
Tikopia
Tikopia is a small and high island in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Covering an area of 5 km² , the island is the remnant of an extinct volcano. Its highest point, Mt. Reani, reaches an elevation of 380 m above sea level. Lake Te Roto covers an old volcanic crater which is 80 m...
.