Solomon Islands--Government

CIA FactbookThe World Factbook 1993: Solomon Islands Government Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Solomon Islands former: British Solomon Islands

Digraph: BP

Type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Honiara

Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 town*; Central, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Temotu, Western

Independence: 7 July 1978 (from UK)

Constitution: 7 July 1978

Legal system: common law

National holiday: Independence Day, 7 July (1978)

Political parties and leaders: People's Alliance Party (PAP); United Party (UP), leader NA; Solomon Islands Liberal Party (SILP), Bartholemew ULUFA'ALU; Nationalist Front for Progress (NFP), Andrew NORI; Labor Party (LP), Joses TUHANUKU

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Elections:

National Parliament: last held 22 February 1989 (next to be held 26 May 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (38 total) PAP 13, UP 6, NFP 4, SILP 4, LP 2, independents 9

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament

Judicial branch: High Court

Leaders:

Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir George LEPPING (since 27 June 1989, previously acted as governor general since 7 July 1988)

Head of Government: Prime Minister Solomon MAMALONI (since 28 March 1989); Deputy Prime Minister Sir Baddeley DEVESI (since NA October 1990)

Member of: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: (vacant); ambassador traditionally resides in Honiara (Solomon Islands) US diplomatic representation: Ambassador Robert W. FARRAND embassy: Mud Alley, Honiara mailing address: American Embassy, P. O. Box 561, Honiara telephone: (677) 23890 FAX: (677) 23488

Flag: divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green