Politics Archive July 2010

Chief Electoral Officer Polycarp Haununu, has urged people who have registered to vote in the Solomon Islands General Elections to be prompt to polling stations.

Voters in North New Georgia, Western Province, will undergo a special seven-day 'how to vote' awareness program this week.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has advised the Electoral Commission that the Solomon Islands National Election day, Wednesday 4 August, will be declared a national public holiday.

A Solomon Islands academic says he's not optimistic that next week's election will produce a government that will deliver more to rural people.

The Solomon Islands Government has confirmed that the caretaker Prime Minister, Dr. Derek Sikua will not be attending next week's Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Summit to be held in Vanuatu.

Over sixty local observers have been briefed by the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission in preparation for the upcoming National General Election.

Chief Electoral Officer, Mr Polycarp Haununu, has issued a warning to candidates to respect electoral laws and keep their campaigns peaceful and fair in the week leading up to the National General Election.

The Electoral Commission has assured the people of Temotu Vatud that their polling day will be the same as the rest of the country - Wednesday 4 August.

Prime Minister Derek Sikua has won a defamation case he lodged against the Island Sun Newspaper at the High Court.

There will be up to 70 international observers in Solomon Islands for the August 4 elections.

Police say they are planning to ban the sale of alcohol in the country during the National General Elections on August 4.

There is rice shortage in Honiara, along with most of the other main provincial centres in the Solomon Islands, as the election looms.

The Electoral Commission has been alerted to an error in the list of the record 508 candidates.

The Solomon Islands Democratic Party spokesman, Mathew Wale, has urged Solomon Islanders to "bravely confront the issue of Land reform in the country to move the nation forward."

The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission has confirmed that a record 508 candidates will contest the upcoming National General Elections on 4th August 2010.

Child sex charges have been reinstated against former Solomon Islands attorney-general Julian Moti following a ruling by Queensland's Court of Appeal.

The caretaker Foreign Minister in Solomon Islands, William Haomae, is confident the leaders of the Melanesian Spearhead Group will be able to resolve the rift with Fiji at a planned special summit meeting.

Malaita Premier Richard Irosaea has urged people of the province to "think carefully before choosing their leaders in the coming August 4th general elections."

The Electoral Commission is inviting local and international organizations to participate in the upcoming National General Election as election observers.

Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua is leaving Honiara this weekend for Fiji to attend the highly criticized 'Engaging Fiji' meeting of Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

Former Central Bank Governor turned politician Rick Hou is taking on 14 other candidates in the race for the Small Malaita parliamentary seat in the 2010 national general elections.

A total of 340 candidates have been confirmed to contest 31 constituencies, according to figures released by the Electoral Commission since the close of withdrawal of nomination by candidates.

Australia has updated its travel warning for visitors to Solomon Islands in the lead-up to the 04 August 2010 poll.

Solomon Islands Foreign Affairs Minister, William Haomae, says the issues surrounding the opening of a processing centre for asylum seekers in the country are quite complex.

The Solomon Islands Reform Democratic Party has announced that it proposes to set up rural development agencies which will govern each constituency in the handling of rural development funds.

The Minister of Police and National Security, James Tora, has appealed to Solomon Islanders to "support electoral officials and the Police in the various activities prior to and including the time of the national general election."

The United Nations, UN, will facilitate the coordination of international election observers during the 2010 National Parliament Election in Solomon Islands.

Australia's Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, is under increasing pressure to find a country within the region that would be willing to host a regional processing centre for asylum seekers.

It was a low key event as Solomon Islanders celebrated its 32nd Independence Anniversary at the Lawson Tama Stadium.

The Electoral Commission is advising intending candidates to submit their nominations by 4.30pm today or miss out on standing in the upcoming National General Election.

The Electoral Commission is advising intending candidates for the upcoming National General Election that the close of nominations is now Thursday 8 July.

The Electoral Commission has kicked off its provincial grassroots awareness program to increase voter awareness ahead of the upcoming National General Election starting in Auki, Malaita Province the national games.