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Leading figures ::
Fred Fono (president), Seth Gukuna, Hence Vaekesa (secretary general), Sarah Dyer (treasurer)
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Status ::
A new party seeking to build on the reputation of its founder – and afford Fred Fono the opportunity to contest the parliamentary election for the position of prime minister.
Fred Fono has represented the Central Kwara’ae constituency since 1997.
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Links ::
The party’s founder, Fred Fono, served as Deputy Prime Minister in Derek Sikua’s Coalition for National Unity and Rural Advancement (CNURA) government from 2007-2010. The CNURA coalition also included the Democratic Party (Matthew Wale), Nasnol Pati (Francis Billy), Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement (Job Dudley Tausinga, Gordon Darcy Lilo) and the Association of Independent Members (Snyder Rini, Tommy Chan). The defeat of the Constitution (Political Parties Amendment) Bill in April 2010 split the coalition.
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Parliamentary seats ::
As a new party formed to contest the 2010 elections it held no seats in the last parliament, although the party founder,
Fred Fono has held his seat in the
Central Kwara’ae constituency since 1997.
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Policies and outlook ::
Despite repeated requests, the party has yet to provide a copy of its election manifesto for inclusion in this publication.
In media interviews shortly after launching the party, its founder Fred Fono, has promised sweeping changes to the way the Rural Constituency Fund (RCDF) is managed, stating “the focus of that party is to make reforms in the constituency development funding. The current system, one of the biggest weaknesses or the hurdles that we face is when these funds are paid through constituencies and members of parliament controls that, you tend to see a lot of people queuing at members of parliament residencies, offices, in order to give out free handout. That is the problem”.
The party will seek to introduce legislation that will require RCDF funds to be managed through local constituency congresses and not MPs.
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History ::
Founded in the lead up to the 2010 election by prominent Solomon Islands political figure
Fred Fono. As a long serving member of Parliament, Fono has represented the Central Kwara’ae Constituency since 1997 and has held a number of ministerial positions including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Rural Development and Indigenous Affairs in Derek Sikua’s Coalition for National Unity and Rural Advancement (CNURA) government. Prime Minister Sikua came to power after winning a motion of no confidence against former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in December 2007. Mr Fono was a candidate to replace Snyder Rini as Prime Minister in 2006 but was narrowly defeated by Manasseh Sogavare. In opposition Mr Fono was highly critical of Sogavare, especially the relations between his government and Australia over the Julian Moti affair, and was instrumental in the eventual toppling of Sogavare as Prime Minister.
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Contact details ::
To be advised
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Sources
‘I will Contest for PM: Fono’,Solomon Times, 15 April 2010
‘Solomons Deputy PM to run for top job’,ABC Radio Australia, 15 April 2010
Solomon Islands National Parliament website -www.parliament.gov.sb
