Speaker of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands

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 Solomon Islands 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.[1]

Speaker of National Parliament of Solomon Islands
Incumbent
Ajilon Nasiu
since 17 December 2014
StyleThe Right Honourable
AppointerNational Parliament
Term length4 years
Solomon Islands
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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.[2] Indeed, Peter Kenilorea was not an MP when he was elected Speaker in 2001,[3] and Allan Kemakeza was elected Speaker after failing to retain his seat in Parliament in the 2010 general election.[4] 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 by-election led to Hilda Kari becoming the first ever woman in the Solomon Islands Parliament.[5]

The Speaker's role, as per section 65 of the Constitution, is to "preside at any sitting of Parliament".[1] He or she is expected to "ensure that Members conduct themselves in accordance to the Standing Orders of National Parliament".[2]

The current speaker, the Right Honourable Ajilon Nasiu, a former Premier of Rennell and Bellona Province, was elected on 17 December 2014.[6]

Presidents of the Legislative Council of the Solomon Islands

The President of the Legislative Council of the Solomon Islands (1960–1970) was the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific.[7][8]

Chairmen of the Governing Council
Name Took office Left office Notes
Tom Russell 1970 August 1971 Also acting High Commissioner[9]
Silas Sitai August 1971 October 1972 Died in office[9][10]
Sir Michael Gass October 1972 1973 Also High Commissioner[10]
Donald Luddington October 1973 September 1974 Also High Commissioner
Frederick Osifelo September 1974 October 1974 [11][12]

Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Name Took office Left office Notes
Sir Frederick Osifelo October 1974 1978 [13][11]

Speakers of the National Parliament

The following MPs have served as Speaker since the First Parliament in 1978.[14]

Name Took office Left office Notes
Lloyd Maepeza Gina August 1978 1988 [14]
Waita Ben Tabusasi 14 March 1989 10 July 1993 [15][14]
Paul Tovua 1994 2001 [14]
Sir Peter Kenilorea 2001 September 2010 [14]
Allan Kemakeza 8 September 2010 17 December 2014
Ajilon Nasiu 17 December 2014 15 May 2019
John Patteson Oti 15 May 2019 Incumbent [16]

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 if on any question the votes are equally divided".[1]

Job Dudley Tausinga, Rural Advancement Party MP for North New Georgia was elected unopposed to the position on 6 December 2011 following the resignation of Namson Tran, independent MP for West Honiara.[17] Tausinga, a veteran MP, lost his seat in the 2014 general election. John Moffat Fugui, Independent MP for Central Honiara, was elected Deputy Speaker on 17 December 2014, with 29 votes to David Tome's 21.[18]

References
  1. Constitution of Solomon Islands (1978)
  2. "The Speaker", National Parliament of Solomon Islands
  3. "Members of the Seventh Parliament", National Parliament of Solomon Islands
  4. "Sir Allan is new Speaker", Solomon Star, 9 September 2010
  5. "Members of the Fourth Parliament", National Parliament of Solomon Islands
  6. "New Speaker Elected", Solomon Times, 17 December 2014
  7. Journal of the Parliaments of the Commonwealth
  8. http://www.solomonencyclopaedia.net/biogs/E000170b.htm
  9. http://www.solomonencyclopaedia.net/biogs/E000122b.htm
  10. http://www.solomonencyclopaedia.net/biogs/E000690b.htm
  11. http://www.solomonencyclopaedia.net/biogs/E000623b.htm
  12. Osifelo, Sir Frederick (1985). "Kanaka Boy".
  13. "British Solomon Islands Protectorate". 1974.
  14. Website of the National Parliament
  15. http://www.solomonencyclopaedia.net/biogs/E000701b.htm
  16. "John Patteson Oti elected Speaker of Solomons parliament", Radio New Zealand, 15 May 2019
  17. "Tausinga Elected Deputy Speaker", Solomon Times, 6 December 2011
  18. "AJILON JASPER NASIU ELECTED AS 6TH SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT", National Parliament, 18 December 2014
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