political scene

Solomons '

is ‘dismal '

From a Honiara correspondent Elections in the Solomons under the new Constitution are to get under way in the next month or two.

Mounting of elections in 14 electoral districts more or less simultaneously is going to be a bit of a headache in these scattered islands.

THE Eastern Outer Islands will certainly have to resort to in direct election through an electoral college. The 13 other districts will organise direct elections—for the first time, except for Honiara.

The present council has 11 official and 10 unofficial members, two of the unofficials being nominated. Of the eight others, only one, the member for Honiara, was elected directly.

The Government will retain the majority in the new council by appointing three ex officio members and up to 12 official members. But there will be other changes, such as an embryo cabinet, and the elections are a further experiment in political freedom—if the Melanesians want it!

E. V. Lawson retires

Mr. E. V. Lawson, the only elected member, has told the House he would like to see two of the official members appointed who are not Government employees, so that “there is something more to the debates than there has been”.

Mr. Lawson has announced he does not intend to stand this time.

“It is time for the Melanesians to stand on their own feet,” he said, “and do something for themselves.”

Mr. Lawson’s Democratic Party, formed with Mariano Kelesi in 1965, is “in recess”—virtually defunct, but not entirely so because of lack of political interest. No Government employee is now allowed to take an active interest in any political party.

Mr. Lawson, who was the party secretary, takes the view that if the Melanesians want to do something about reactivating the party then they should get busy and do it. But nobody seems to want to take up the challenge.

The political scene at the moment looks somewhat dismal, but one hopes for surprises. If the Solomons are to have any, we should know soon.