Shadow Cabinet of Solomon Islands


The Shadow Cabinet of Solomon Islands is the parliamentary Opposition's alternative Cabinet in Solomon Islands. Solomon Islands is a Commonwealth realm with a Westminster system of government; the Shadow Cabinet is modelled on the British institution of the same name.
The Opposition is formally known as "Her Majesty’s Official Opposition".

Current Shadow Cabinet

The current Shadow Cabinet was appointed by Opposition Leader Steve Abana on 31 August 2010, following the general election on 4 August, and Abana's unsuccessful attempt to be elected to the premiership. It shadows Prime Minister Danny Philip's coalition Cabinet. Abana's Shadow Cabinet is also a coalition, albeit primarily composed of members of the Democratic Party.
Stanley Sofu, initially appointed Shadow Minister for Infrastructure Development, defected to the government in December 2010.
On 20 January 2011, citing dissatisfaction with the Cabinet being "manipulated by one or two people", Bodo Dettke, Douglas Ete, Martin Sopage and Mark Kemakeza all left the government and formally joined Abana's Opposition. It was not immediately made clear what positions they might be given in a Shadow Cabinet reshuffle.
In late March 2011, Abana resigned from the leadership of the Opposition, reportedly under pressure from certain members, and Derek Sikua was elected by Opposition MPs to replace him. A week later, Abana defected to the government, along with four other members of the Opposition. This split reportedly brought the Opposition numbers down to just six, of which Opposition leader Derek Sikua and his deputy Matthew Wale.
Shadow PortfolioShadow MinisterPolitical partyConstituency
Leader of the Opposition;
Minister for Public Service
Steve AbanaDemocratic PartyFataleka
Deputy Shadow Prime Minister;
Minister for Education and Human Resources Development;
Shadow Minister for the Environment, Conservation and Meteorology
Matthew WaleDemocratic PartyAoke-Langalanga
Shadow Minister for Home AffairsPeter TomDemocratic PartyWest Kwaio
Shadow Minister for Agriculture and LivestockConnolly SandagapatuIndependentNorth-West Choiseul
Shadow Minister for Commerce, Industry, Labour and ImmigrationJohn ManeniaruIndependentWest 'Are'are
Shadow Minister for Communication and Aviation;
Shadow Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional services
Walter FolotaluDemocratic PartyLau/Mbaelelea
Shadow Minister for Culture and TourismSeth GukunaIndependentRennell-Bellona
Shadow Minister for Fisheries and Marine ResourcesAndrew Hanaria KeniasinaPeople's Congress PartyEast 'Are'are
Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade;
Shadow Minister for Justice and Legal Affairs
Milner TozakaPeople's Alliance PartyNorth Vella Lavella
Shadow Minister for ForestryJob Dudley TausingaParty for Rural AdvancementNorth New Georgia
Shadow Minister for Health and Medical ServicesDickson Mua PanakitasiOUR PartySavo-Russels
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure Development?--
Shadow Minister for Lands, Housing and Survey;
Shadow Minister for National Planning and Aid Coordination
Manasseh SogavareOUR PartyEast Choiseul
Shadow Minister for Mines, Energy and Rural ElectrificationDavid Dei PachaDemocratic PartySouth Guadalcanal
Shadow Minister for National Unity, Reconciliation and PeaceSam IduriDemocratic PartyWest Kwara'ae
Shadow Minister for Provincial Government and Institutional strengtheningAlfred GhiroDemocratic PartyEast Makira
Shadow Minister for Rural Development and Indigenous AffairsMoses GaruDemocratic PartyWest Guadalcanal
Shadow Minister for Women, Youth and Children AffairsSilas TausingaParty for Rural AdvancementWest New Georgia
Shadow Minister for Finance and the TreasuryRick HouenipwelaDemocratic PartySmall Malaita