Solomon Islands Social Credit Party

Last updated
Solomon Islands Social Credit Party
Leader Manasseh Sogavare
FoundedJuly 2005
DissolvedBy 2010
Succeeded by Ownership, Unity and Responsibility Party
Ideology Social credit
National affiliation Solomon Islands Alliance for Change

The Solomon Islands Social Credit Party ("Socreds") was a political party in the Solomon Islands that espoused social credit theories of monetary reform. It opposed foreign interference in the economy of the country. [1]

Contents

It was led by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, previously leader of the People's Progressive Party [2] and the former Member of Parliament for East Choiseul. Sogavare launched the party in July 2005, backed by Filipino businessman Ramon Quitales. [3] Other prominent party members included Clay Forau Soalaoi. [4]

It was a member of a four-party coalition, the Solomon Islands Alliance for Change, which included the National Party, Solomon Islands Liberal Party, and the Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement, and groups of independents from Honiara, Malaita and Guadalcanal. [5]

The party opposes foreign control of the economy, and advocates a full monetary and financial reform in line with the ideology of social credit. It believes that the islands' poverty can only be addressed through social credit monetary reform. [6] The party traced its origins to the New Zealand Social Credit Party and one of its leaders, Bruce Beetham, who hosted a Solomon Islands student in his home. That student, Solomon Mamaloni, later became prime minister of the Solomon Islands. [7]

The party, running candidates for the first time, contested 29 constituencies in the 2006 general election. The party won 4.3% of the vote and 2 seats. In 2007, the party had around 10,000 members. [8] Soon after, it was dissolved and absorbed by the Ownership, Unity and Responsibility Party, again led by Sogavare. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Solomon Islands</span> Political system of Solomon Islands

Politics of Solomon Islands takes place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democratic, constitutional monarchy. Solomon Islands is an independent Commonwealth realm, where executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and a multi-party parliament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">People's Progressive Party (Solomon Islands)</span>

The People's Progressive Party (PPP) was a political party in the Solomon Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manasseh Sogavare</span> Prime Minister of Solomon Islands (2019–present)

Manasseh Damukana Sogavare is a Solomon Islander politician who has served as the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands since 24 April 2019. He previously held the office in 2000–2001, 2006–2007 and 2014–2017; in all he has served over nine years as prime minister. Before becoming prime minister, Sogavare served in the National Parliament representing East Choiseul since 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bartholomew Ulufa'alu</span>

Bartholomew (Bart) Ulufa'alu CMG was the prime minister of Solomon Islands from 27 August 1997 to 30 June 2000.

Sir Francis Billy Hilly is a Solomon Islands politician who was the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands from 18 June 1993 to 7 November 1994. He represented the Ranogga/Simbo Constituency in the National Parliament from 1976 to 1984, and has represented the constituency again since 1993. Hilly has been Minister of Commerce, Industry and Employment since December 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patteson Oti</span>

John Patteson Oti, sometimes called Patterson Oti, is a Solomon Islands politician and diplomat. He was Minister for Foreign Affairs, External Trade and Immigration from May 2006 to 22 December 2007. He is the secretary general of the Ownership, Unity and Responsibility Party, which was launched in early 2010. Since March 2012, he has been his country's High Commissioner to Fiji.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solomon Islands Democratic Party</span> Political party in Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands Democratic Party is a political party in Solomon Islands. In a country in which political parties tend to be small and transient, and to obtain very few seats in Parliament, the Democratic Party has played a comparatively major role in recent history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred Fono</span>

Fred Iro Fono was a Solomon Islands politician, serving as the country's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Rural Development and Indigenous Affairs from December 2007 to August 2010. He was a member of the People's Alliance Party and represented Central Kwara'ae Constituency in the National Parliament for thirteen years from 1997 to 2010, when he was defeated for re-election by MP Jackson Fiulaua.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derek Sikua</span> Solomon Islands politician

David Derek Sikua served as the prime minister of Solomon Islands from 20 December 2007 to 25 August 2010. He is a member of the Solomon Islands Liberal Party.

Steve William Abana is a Solomon Islands politician. He is a former Member of Parliament for Fataleka and was the Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition from August 2010 to March 2011.

Nelson Ne'e was a Solomon Islands politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clay Forau Soalaoi</span> Solomon Islands politician

Clay Forau Soalaoi, more commonly referred to as Clay Forau, is a Solomon Islands politician.

The Ownership, Unity and Responsibility Party is a political party in the Solomon Islands. It is headed by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and has competed in the 2010 and 2024 elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Solomon Islands general election</span>

General elections were held in the Solomon Islands on 4 August 2010. The election date was announced in May 2010 by Prime Minister Derek Sikua. Although the announcement was deemed to be premature, as only the Governor General has the authority to announce the election date upon the advice of the Electoral Commission, the election date remained the same.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Shannel Agovaka</span> Solomon Islands politician (born 1959)

Peter Shannel Agovaka is a Solomon Islands politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leader of the Opposition (Solomon Islands)</span>

In the Solomon Islands, the Leader of the Official Opposition is the leader of the largest political party in the National Parliament that is not in government. The title of "Leader of the Opposition" is common to the Commonwealth realms and several other Commonwealth countries, though in Solomon Islands it is specifically defined by the Constitution. The Leader of the Opposition appoints and leads a Shadow Cabinet. The current Leader of the Opposition, since December 2014, is Jeremiah Manele.

Charles Dausabea was a Solomon Islands politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Solomon Islands general election</span>

General elections were held in Solomon Islands on 3 April 2019 to determine the composition of the 11th Parliament. The election was the first to occur since the conclusion of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) in 2017. Parliament passed amendments to the electoral act in 2018 that included the introduction of pre-polling, a significant increase in campaign budgets for candidates and stricter penalties for individuals committing electoral offences such as vote-buying. Ten of the thirteen parties that contested the election won seats, and the Solomon Islands Democratic Party and the Kadere Party were the parties that secured the highest amount, winning eight each. However, as in previous elections, independent candidates won the largest share of seats, securing 21.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 Solomon Islands general election</span>

General elections were held in Solomon Islands on 17 April 2024 to determine the composition of the 12th Parliament. Initially planned for 2023, parliament voted in 2022 to delay the elections. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare claimed the country could not afford to have an election in the same year Solomon Islands was hosting the Pacific Games. The opposition condemned the delay and accused Sogavare of a power grab.

References

  1. Cavanough, Edward Acton (2023-09-19). Divided Isles: Solomon Islands and the China Switch. Black Inc. ISBN   978-1-74382-328-6.
  2. "Q&A: Solomon Islands vote". BBC News. 4 April 2006. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  3. "New political party launched in the Solomon Islands", Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation text website (nl.newsbank.com), July 11, 2005.
  4. Fraenkel, Jon (2006). "The Impact of RAMSI on the 2006 Elections in the Solomon Islands". Political Science. 58 (2): 63–85. doi:10.1177/003231870605800205. hdl: 1885/54631 . ISSN   0032-3187.
  5. [ permanent dead link ]
  6. "SOLOMON IS: New political party challanges [sic] country's leadership". ABC Pacific Beat. 2005-07-13. Archived from the original on 2007-03-13. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  7. Michael Field (2006-04-16). "Solomons leaders who led country into civil war contest premiership". Archived from the original on 2007-03-12. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  8. Hassall, Graham (2016). Democracy in the Pacific: Tensions between system and Life-world. pp. 313–360.
  9. "IPU PARLINE database: SOLOMON ISLANDS (National Parliament), ELECTIONS IN 2010". archive.ipu.org. Retrieved 2024-03-11.