Mamaloni

Elections

Mamaloni win on the cards

By Johnson Honimae

SOLOMON ISLANDS Prime Minister Solomon Mamalomi is back, at least in Parliament, for the next four years. His constituency of West Makira, in the eastern part of the country, has so much confidence in the man that Mamaloni stood unopposed when nominations for the May 25 national elections closed on April 28.

Another member of Mamaloni’s govern ment of national unity and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Relations, Job Dudley Tausinga also stood unopposed in the North New Georgia seat in the Western Province. The Solomon Islands Group for National Unity and Reconciliation which Mamaloni is leading into the elections is made up of his 15 Cabinet members and six former government backbenchers. It will also include several new candidates. The group has lost the former MP for Small Malaita, Alex Bartlett, to the United Party but has gained a former deputy Prime Minister and a member of Mamaloni’s old

People’s Alliance Party, Danny Philip, who

is former MP for Rendova/Tetepari.

The May election is one which is being

contested by more professionals and quali

fied people than any other election since Solomons Islands gained independence in 1978. There are 33 public servants, includ ing their boss, the Chairman of the Public Service Commission, have left their secure jobs to enter politics. Included in this group are two permanent secretaries, Leonard Macnu’u, Health and Medical Services) who is contesting the West Honiara seat and Patteson Oti (Ministry of Provincial government), who is standing for the Femotu Nende seat, in the eastern part of die country. Two medical doctors and several academics are also going into the 'lections.

With already two in the bag, Prime

Minister Mamaloni’s National Unity

already has a head start on the seven )ther political parties that are putting orward candidates for the elections. Most )f Mamaloni’s former Cabinet ministers ihould not have any problems getting their ieats back except for two. One is the Minister of Transport, Works and Utilities, 3en Gale, MP for West Honiara, whose win s doubtful because the seat is being ontested by more educated and qualified 3eople for the first time. His opposing andidates include a former permanent

secretary, a prominent businessman and other former senior government officers.

Gale, a former taxi-driver who is hoping for his third term in Parliament, will have to work harder than he did in previous elections.

The other minister who will have to work hard is the Minister of Commerce and Primary Industries, Alfred Maetia, contest ing the Central Kvvara’s seat. The constitu ency’s area has been changed with nine new' constituencies added. Maetia will now have to cover some new villages. Maetia was also charged along with two Austra lians for attempting to smuggle parrots out of the country last year. Maetia was acquitted but his name has been scarred following the incident.

The other seats to watch out for are those contested by leaders of the other political parties. Former Prime Minister and leader of the United Party, Ezekiel Alebua is likely to retain his East Guadalcanal seat but his nearest riv al in the last election, Johnson Koli, is also standing. Leader of the National Party of Solomon Islands, NAPSI, Francis Saemala, thought he had it all tied up for the Aoke and Langa Langa seat on Malaita until a former Finance Minister and economist, Bartholomew Ulufa’alu, decided to contest the same seal.

Already there has been a lot of mud slinging between the two in their campaign.

Opposition Leader and Leader of the

Labour Parly, Joses Tuhanuku, must come back because he has been instrumental in creating a separate province for his two islands of Rennell and Bcllona and has been working hard onn getting relief supplies for his people in the wake of Cyclone Nina early this year.

Thee most hotly contested seat will have to be the West Are'Are seat contested by the Leader of the People s Alliance Part)’ and veteran politician, David Kausimae, and Leader of the Nationalist Front for Prog ress, Andrew Nori. The two candidates are also relatives and so family votes will be split and other votes will be split further by the three other candidates also running for the same seat.

With all the uncertainty, like most elections in Pacific island countries, Prime Minister Mamaloni’s group seems set to be a force to be reckoned with. Even if only 50 percent of his group’s candidates get elected, Mamaloni should be able to convince the independent candidates to

join him bv probably offering ministerial

positions in front of their eyes.

At least the National Unitv Group docs not have to worry about getting getting its leader into parliament which is a worry to the other parties. There is of course the final hurdle of choosing who should be a leader or prime minister if the other parlies decide to form a coalition government as a means getting rid of Mamaloni.