Speaker of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands

The Speaker of the National Parliament is the Speaker of the National Parliament of the Solomon Islands. The position was established under section 64 of the Constitution of the 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.; the Solomon Islands is a Commonwealth realm and maintains a Westminster system of government.Constitution of Solomon Islands (1978)

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."The Speaker", National Parliament of Solomon Islands Indeed, Peter Kenilorea was not an MP when he was elected Speaker in 2001,"Members of the Seventh Parliament", National Parliament of Solomon Islands and Allan Kemakeza was elected Speaker after failing to retain his seat in Parliament in the 2010 general election."Sir Allan is new Speaker", Solomon Star, 9 September 2010 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."Members of the Fourth Parliament", National Parliament of Solomon Islands

The speaker's role, as per section 65 of the Constitution, is to "preside at any sitting of Parliament". The speaker is expected to "ensure that Members conduct themselves in accordance to the Standing Orders of National Parliament".

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.Journal of the Parliaments of the Commonwealth

Chairmen of the Governing Council

Name Took office Left office NotesTom Russell1970August 1971Also acting High CommissionerSilas SitaiAugust 1971October 1972Died in officeSir Michael GassOctober 19721973Also High CommissionerDonald LuddingtonOctober 1973September 1974Also High CommissionerFrederick OsifeloSeptember 1974October 1974

Speaker of the Legislative Assembly

Name Took office Left office NotesSir Frederick OsifeloOctober 19741978

Speakers of the National Parliament

The following MPs have served as Speaker since the First Parliament in 1978.Website of the National Parliament

Name Took office Left office NotesLloyd Maepeza GinaAugust 19781988Waita Ben Tabusasi14 March 198910 July 1993Paul Tovua19942001Sir Peter Kenilorea2001September 2010Allan Kemakeza8 September 201017 December 2014 Ajilon Nasiu17 December 201415 May 2019Patteson Oti15 May 2019Incumbent"John Patteson Oti elected Speaker of Solomons parliament", Radio New Zealand, 15 May 2019

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. A deputy speaker who becomes speaker must vacate their seat in 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".

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."Tausinga Elected Deputy Speaker", Solomon Times, 6 December 2011 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."AJILON JASPER NASIU ELECTED AS 6TH SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT", National Parliament, 18 December 2014

References