Candidate fail to resign

A candidate who contested Temotu Pele constituency in last Wednesday’s polls has not officially resigned from his government job before contesting. A senior officer in the Ministry of Rural Development said Drummond Tupe Vaea, who is the Constituency’s Development Officer, has not resigned his job. The officer said it was surprising Vaea’s candidacy has not…

Voters confused over process

Half of registered voters from Nafinua and Kwaiafa polling stations in Malaita have to be assisted when casting their ballots. This was due to confusion over the new process and lack of educational awareness in the area ahead of the polls, voters there said. A Solomon Star reporter at the station last Wednesday witnessed many…

Red Cross gives a hand

Auki Red Cross volunteer staff assisted in the election counting process in Malaita over the past days after polling day on November 19. Team team leader David Oto said almost every province that have Red Cross branch offices are also doing the first aid assistance during the counting process. He said their purpose of being…

Police probe suspicious death

Police in Makira-Ulawa Province are investigating the death of a young man from Ulawa island. The incident was reported as suicide but the provincial police commander Richard Hane said it needs to be investigated.  “We have our officers on the field, who confirmed the incident had happen but the nature of death looked suspicious and…

Tome secures full term

Former Baegu-Asifola MP in Malaita, David Tome, has secured the seat for his first full term in parliament. Tome first won the seat in 2012 in a by-election following the death of Toswell Kaua, who claimed the seat in the 2010 elections. His victory in last Wednesday’s polls means he has a full term of…

Tom wins third term

Outgoing Minister for Women, Youth, Children & Family Affairs Peter Tom has reclaimed the West Kwaio seat in Malaita and a third term in parliament. Tom was first elected to parliament in 2006. In last Wednesday’s polls, he received a total of 1,791 votes ahead of his runner up Titus Fika, who polled 1,507 votes.…

Lusibaea returns to power

Jimmy Lusibaea has returned to the helm of North Malaita constituency in last Wednesday’s polls. He won by an overwhelming majority of 1,512 votes after polling 2,430 ballots. His runner up, Frederick Kwanairara, polled 918 votes. Lusibaea first won the North Malaita seat in the 2010 elections, but lost it a year later after he…

Western re-elects seven MPs

In Western Province, voters there re-elected seven of their nine outgoing MPs in last Wednesday’s polls. Only two of the old MPs – outgoing prime minister Gordon Darcy Lilo and veteran politician Job Duddley Tausinga – lost their seats. Lilo was replaced by Jimson Fiau Tanangada, of the United Democratic Party, while Tausinga was unseated…

Choiseul re-elects MPs

Voters in Choiseul Province have again given all their three outgoing MPs the political mandate to lead them for the next four years. Manasseh Sogavare reclaimed his East Choiseul seat, Connelly Sandakabatu his Northwest Choiseul, and Elijah Doro Muala, South Choiseul. Choiseul, on the far western border, has three constituencies. For Sogavare, a former prime…

Shanel, Sikua, Tovosia all back

Most former Guadalcanal Members of Parliament have retained their seats in election results announced last night. Peter Shanel Agovaka secured his Central Guadalcanal seat, Dr Derek Sikua his North East Guadalcanal Constituency, while Bradley Tovosia retained his East Guadalcanal constituency. Shanel polled 2,083 votes. His runner up, Walter Naezon, polled 1,446 votes followed by Ribson…