Speaker of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands
Encyclopedia
The Speaker of National Parliament is the Speaker
of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands
. The position was established under section 64 of the Constitution of 1978, when the country became independent from the United Kingdom. It is similar to the position of Speaker of the House of Commons in the U.K.; Solomon Islands is a Commonwealth realm
and maintains a Westminster system
of government.
The Speaker is elected to the post by Members of Parliament every four years, as mandated by Order 5 of the Standing Orders of the National Parliament. The latter Order stipulates that "Every citizen of Solomon Islands over the age of twenty-one and who is otherwise qualified for election as a Member shall be eligible for election as Speaker". Thus the Speaker is not necessarily chosen from among sitting MPs, unlike the procedure governing the election of the Speaker in the United Kingdom. Indeed, Peter Kenilorea
was not an MP when he was elected Speaker in 2001, and Allan Kemakeza
was elected Speaker after failing to retain his seat in Parliament in the 2010 general election
. The only person so far to have been a sitting MP when elected Speaker was Waita Ben Tabusasi, in 1989. He vacated his seat as MP for North East Guadalcanal
upon assuming the duties of Speaker; the resulting bye-election led to Hilda Kari
becoming the first ever woman in the Solomon Islands Parliament.
The Speaker's role, as per section 65 of the Constitution, is to "preside at any sitting of Parliament". He or she is expected to "ensure that Members conduct themselves in accordance to the Standing Orders of National Parliament".
The current speaker, the Right Honourable Sir Allan Kemakeza
, was elected on 8 September 2010.
The Deputy Speaker carries out the functions of the Speaker if the latter is unable to do so. However, per article 71 of the Constitution, while the Speaker has "neither an original nor a casting vote", the Deputy Speaker, when presiding Parliament, may not cast an original vote but "shall exercise a casting vote
if on any question the votes are equally divided".
The current Deputy Speaker, elected during the same session as the Speaker, is the first time MP for West Honiara, Namson Tran
. Tran is not a member of any political party.
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands
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...
. The position was established under section 64 of the Constitution of 1978, when the country became independent from the United Kingdom. It is similar to the position of Speaker of the House of Commons in the U.K.; Solomon Islands is a Commonwealth realm
Commonwealth Realm
A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state within the Commonwealth of Nations that has Elizabeth II as its monarch and head of state. The sixteen current realms have a combined land area of 18.8 million km² , and a population of 134 million, of which all, except about two million, live in the six...
and maintains a Westminster system
Westminster System
The Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modelled after the politics of the United Kingdom. This term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
of government.
The Speaker is elected to the post by Members of Parliament every four years, as mandated by Order 5 of the Standing Orders of the National Parliament. The latter Order stipulates that "Every citizen of Solomon Islands over the age of twenty-one and who is otherwise qualified for election as a Member shall be eligible for election as Speaker". Thus the Speaker is not necessarily chosen from among sitting MPs, unlike the procedure governing the election of the Speaker in the United Kingdom. Indeed, Peter Kenilorea
Peter Kenilorea
Sir Peter Kenilorea KBE is a Solomon Islands politician, officially styled The Rt. Hon. Sir Peter Kenilorea as a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom....
was not an MP when he was elected Speaker in 2001, and Allan Kemakeza
Allan Kemakeza
Sir Allan Kemakeza KBE was the seventh Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands from 2001 to 2006. He represented Savo/Russel Constituency in the National Parliament of Solomon Islands from 1989 to 2010 and was most recently Minister of Forestry December 2007 to August 2010...
was elected Speaker after failing to retain his seat in Parliament in the 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...
. The only person so far to have been a sitting MP when elected Speaker was Waita Ben Tabusasi, in 1989. He vacated his seat as MP for North East Guadalcanal
North East Guadalcanal
North East Guadalcanal is a parliamentary constituency electing one representative to the National Parliament of Solomon Islands. It is one of eight constituencies in Guadalcanal Province. It had an electorate of 5,584 in 2006....
upon assuming the duties of Speaker; the resulting bye-election led to Hilda Kari
Hilda Kari
Hilda Kari is a Solomon Islands politician.Educated in Australia, she is a senior health administrator, and President of the National Council of Women, an organisation dedicated to encouraging and facilitating women's participation in politics....
becoming the first ever woman in the Solomon Islands Parliament.
The Speaker's role, as per section 65 of the Constitution, is to "preside at any sitting of Parliament". He or she is expected to "ensure that Members conduct themselves in accordance to the Standing Orders of National Parliament".
The current speaker, the Right Honourable Sir Allan Kemakeza
Allan Kemakeza
Sir Allan Kemakeza KBE was the seventh Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands from 2001 to 2006. He represented Savo/Russel Constituency in the National Parliament of Solomon Islands from 1989 to 2010 and was most recently Minister of Forestry December 2007 to August 2010...
, was elected on 8 September 2010.
Chairmen of the Governing Council
- Silas Sitai (1971–October 1972)
- Frederick Osifelo (?-1974)
Speakers of the National Parliament
The following MPs have served as Speaker since the First Parliament in 1978.- Lloyd Maepeza Gina (1978–1988)
- Waeta Ben Tabusasi (1989–1993)
- Paul Tovua (1994–2001)
- Sir Peter KeniloreaPeter KeniloreaSir Peter Kenilorea KBE is a Solomon Islands politician, officially styled The Rt. Hon. Sir Peter Kenilorea as a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom....
(2001-2010) - Sir Allan KemakezaAllan KemakezaSir Allan Kemakeza KBE was the seventh Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands from 2001 to 2006. He represented Savo/Russel Constituency in the National Parliament of Solomon Islands from 1989 to 2010 and was most recently Minister of Forestry December 2007 to August 2010...
(2010- )
Deputy Speaker
The Constitution also provides for a Deputy Speaker. Per article 64, the Deputy Speaker is elected by Parliament from among its members, whereas the Speaker may be elected from outside Parliament. Whereas the Speaker, if an MP when elected to that function, must vacate his or her seat, the Deputy Speaker on the contrary maintains his seat, and vacates the position of Deputy Speaker if he ceases to be a Member of Parliament. The leader of a political party in Parliament may not serve as Deputy Speaker.The Deputy Speaker carries out the functions of the Speaker if the latter is unable to do so. However, per article 71 of the Constitution, while the Speaker has "neither an original nor a casting vote", the Deputy Speaker, when presiding Parliament, may not cast an original vote but "shall exercise a casting vote
Casting vote
A casting vote is a vote given to the presiding officer of a council or legislative body to resolve a deadlock and which can be exercised only when such a deadlock exists...
if on any question the votes are equally divided".
The current Deputy Speaker, elected during the same session as the Speaker, is the first time MP for West Honiara, Namson Tran
Namson Tran
Namson Tran is a Solomon Islands businessman and politician.Born in Vietnam, Tran moved first to Vanuatu then to Solomon Islands, where he married a Solomon Islander and became a naturalised citizen....
. Tran is not a member of any political party.