Makira, Malaita, Temotu, Western
Independence:
7 July 1978 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
Constitution:
7 July 1978
Legal system:
common law
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor
General Sir George LEPPING (since 27 June 1989, previously acted as
governor general since 7 July 1988)
head of government:
Prime Minister Francis Billy HILLY (since June 1993); Deputy Prime
Minister Francis SAEMALA (since June 1993)
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime
minister from members of parliament
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Parliament:
elections last held NA May 1993 (next to be held NA 1997); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (47 total) National Unity Group
21, PAP 8, National Action Party 6, LP 4, UP 3, Christian Fellowship
2, NFP 1, independents 2
Judicial branch:
High Court
Political parties and leaders:
People's Alliance Party (PAP); United Party (UP), leader NA; Solomon
Islands Liberal Party (SILP), Bartholemew ULUFA'ALU; Nationalist Front
for Progress (NFP), Andrew NORI; Labor Party (LP), Joses TUHANUKU;
National Action Party, leader NA; Christian Fellowship, leader NA;
National Unity Group, Solomon MAMALONI
Member of:
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, LORCS, SPARTECA, SPC,
SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
(vacant); ambassador traditionally resides in Honiara (Solomon
Islands)
US diplomatic representation:
embassy closed July 1993; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is
accredited to the Solomon Islands
Flag:
divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side
corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white
five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is
green

@Solomon Islands, Economy

Overview:
The bulk of the population depend on subsistence agriculture, fishing,
and forestry for at least part of their livelihood. Most manufactured
goods and petroleum products must be imported. The islands are rich in
undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold.
The economy suffered from a severe cyclone in mid-1986 that caused
widesp