1973 Solomon Islands general election

General elections were held in the Solomon Islands between 22 May and 12 June 1973. The following year, Solomon Mamaloni of the People's Progressive Party became the first Chief Minister.

Electoral system

The Governing Council was enlarged from 26 to 33 seats prior to the election. Of the 33 members, 24 were elected in single-member constituencies (increased from seventeen) and nine were appointed, including three ex officio members. The member representing Eastern Outer Island was elected directly for the first time, having previously been elected by an electoral college, although suffrage on the islands was limited to men by local chiefs.

Campaign

A total of 118 candidates contested the 24 elected seats. Campaigning in Honiara was reported to be unusually bitter, with posters being torn down and several complaints made to the police. Only one political party, the Solomons United National Party of David Kausimae, contested the elections.

Results

Only six of the MPs elected in 1970 were re-elected, and only one member of the Solomons United National Party. Voter turnout ranged from 42% in Honiara to 82%.

Results by constituency
Constituency	Candidate	Votes	%	Notes
ꞌAreꞌare	David Kausimae	1,223	63.14	Elected
	Peter Kenilorea	714	36.86
	Total	1,937	100
Central Guadalcanal	David Thuguvoda	618	41.28	Elected
	Alfred Maeke	507	33.87
	Moses Albert Rere	191	12.76
	Allan Billy Masedi	181	12.09
	Total	1,497	100
Central Malaita	Collin Gauwane	567	37.80	Elected
	George Maelalo	243	16.20
	Lionel Oloni	201	13.40
	Vincent Talauburi	190	12.67
	Jazial Fono	133	8.87
	Frank Lulu Bare	89	5.93
	Timeous Teioli	65	4.33
	Nelson Kifo	12	0.80
	Total	1,500	100
Choiseul	Gideon Zoleveke	690	42.94	Elected
	Franklin Pitakaka	318	19.79
	Allan Qurusu	263	16.37
	Binet Gadebeta	192	11.95
	Benjamin Robinson	81	5.04
	Peter Qorovuku	63	3.92
	Total	1,607	100
East Guadalcanal	Waeta Ben	618	39.31	Elected
	David Valusa	216	13.74
	Joel Kikolo	171	10.88
	James Bosa	148	9.41
	Sukuatu Malakia	113	7.19
	Donasiano Pororasu	83	5.28
	Salathiel Lence Roger	83	5.28
	Total	1,572	100
East Isabel/Savo	Francis Reginald Kikolo	628	33.65	Elected
	Daniel Denys Maile	526	28.19
	Wilson Sungi	394	21.11
	Alfred Charles Bugoro	318	17.04
	Total	1,866	100
East Makira	Benedict Kinika	1,034	61.84	Elected
	Geoffrey Kuper	638	38.16
	Total	1,672	100
East Malaita	Leslie Fugui	441	27.19	Elected
	Faneta Sira	338	20.84
	Billy Fa'arobo	205	12.64
	John Maetia Kaliuae	188	11.59
	Baddeley Koutu	111	6.84
	Ben Gale	97	5.98
	Andrew Gwai	88	5.43
	Pita Saefafia Kirimaoma	87	5.36
	Jack Inifiri	67	4.13
	Total	1,622	100
Eastern Outer Islands	Moffat Bonunga	1,001	50.56	Elected
	John Melanoli	503	25.40
	Shadrach Sade	199	10.05
	John Palusi	176	8.89
	David Dawea Taukalo	101	5.10
	Total	1,980	100
Gizo/Ranongga/Simbo/Kolombangara	George Ngumi	876	62.30	Elected
	Anthony Ramoi	276	19.63
	Bruce Ragoso	148	10.53
	Aquila Talasasa	55	3.91
	Alfred Bisili	51	3.63
	Total	1,406	100
Honiara	Ashley Wickham	991	54.39	Elected
	Peter J. Salaka	481	26.40
	Colin Bentley	196	10.76
	Stephen Anilafa Sipolo	68	3.73
	Moses Puibangara Pitakaka	50	2.74
	Paul Belande	36	1.98
	Total	1,822	100
Kwaio	Jonathan Fiifii'i	477	36.78	Elected
	Frank Tafea'a	330	25.44
	Paul Andrew Foasi	238	18.35
	John Maesafi	200	15.42
	John Fisango	52	4.01
	Total	1,297	100
Lau/Mbaelelea	Philip Solodia	566	44.67	Elected
	Mariano Kelesi	473	37.33
	Nathan Wate	193	15.23
	David Mark Tefetea	35	2.76
	Total	1,267	100
Marovo/Kusaghe	Samuel Kuku	577	50.09	Elected
	Pulepada Ghemu	575	49.91
	Total	1,152	100
Nggela	Moses Mahomed Razak	537	28.17	Elected
	Abraham Siau	487	25.55
	Richard Harper	419	21.98
	Cecil Wilson Maneau	165	8.66
	Frank Bollan Vikino	139	7.29
	Ben Tumulima	104	5.46
	Jeremiah Legaile Tovono	55	2.89
	Michael Aike	54	2.83
	Calisto Houma	46	2.41
	Gabriel Narasia	40	2.10
	Total	1,906	100
North West Malaita	Jeriel Ofea Ausuta	389	34.92	Elected
	Clement Kiriau Ofai	169	15.17
	Abel Limari'i	159	14.27
	Bartholomew Leni Olea	157	14.09
	Lemuel Liolea	108	9.69
	Augustine Maelfodola	101	9.07
	Jeriel Lifuasi	31	2.78
	Total	1,114	100
Roviana/Rendova	John Page	714	57.53	Elected
	David E Kera	228	18.37
	Joseph Nona	162	13.05
	Alphonse Daga	137	11.04
	Total	1,241	100
Shortlands/Vella Lavella	Andrew Kukuti	528	41.41	Elected
	Gordon Siama	452	35.45
	Dominic Outana	295	23.14
	Total	1,275	100
Small Malaita	Emilio Li'I Ouou	608	42.40	Elected
	Anthony Saru	340	23.71
	George Garnet	269	18.76
	Richard Watekari	217	15.13
	Total	1,434	100
South Guadalcanal/Rennell and Bellona	Stephen Cheka	440	22.73	Elected
	John Tepaika	387	19.99
	George Pugeva	347	17.92
	George Wilson Mangale	335	17.30
	Paul John	237	12.24
	Saddia Chachia	83	4.29
	Pende Cheryn	76	3.93
	Jokim Gapu	31	1.60
	Total	1,936	100
West Guadalcanal and Russells	Matthew Belamataga	745	34.85	Elected
	Orlie Torling	431	20.16
	K Kesty Ta'afia	351	16.42
	Bartholomew Buchanan	260	12.16
	John Baptist Tura	214	10.01
	Imogen Vida Phillips	137	6.41
	Total	2,138	100
West Isabel	Willie Betu	1,059	65.21	Elected
	Eric Anderson	565	34.79
	Total	1,624	100
West Kwara'ae	Peter Kerr Thompson	1,169	72.74	Elected
	Alan Taki	288	17.92
	Leonard Maenu'u	150	9.33
	Total	1,607	100
West Makira	Solomon Mamaloni	1,272	74.00	Elected
	Nathaniel Rahumae Waena	447	26.00
	Total	1,719	100
Source: Election Passport

Aftermath

Following the elections, a new political party – the United Solomon Islands Party (USIP) – was formed by fourteen of the winning candidates. Benedit Kinika was elected chair of the new party, with Gideon Zoloveke as his deputy. The Solomons United National Party became defunct. In January 1974 another new party, the People's Progressive Party (PPP) was formed. Having become defunct late in 1973, USIP was also revived.

Later in the 1974 constitutional amendments converted the Governing Council into a Legislative Assembly and introduced the position of Chief Minister, elected by the Assembly. Both USIP and the PPP attempted to win the support of the Independent Group led by Willie Betu before the vote on 27 August. Six rounds were required before a winner emerged. Solodia Funifaka dropped out after the fourth round, with the fifth round resulting in a tie between Kinika and Solomon Mamaloni. In the sixth round, Mamaloni won by 14 votes to 10 for Kinika. A government was subsequently formed by the PPP independent MPs.

Mamaloni appointed five ministers to his cabinet, keeping the Home Affairs portfolio for himself. David Kausimae became Minister of Agriculture and the Rural Economy, Willie Betu was Minister for Education and Cultural Affairs, Stephen Cheka was Minister of Health and Welfare, Peter Kerr Thompson was Minister of Trade, Industry and Labour and Gideon Zoloveke was Minister of Works and Public Utilities. Zoloveke was moved to the Ministry of Home Affairs in late 1974 and replaced as Minister of Works and Public Utilities by Solodia Funifaka. A cabinet reshuffle took place in 1975, with Peter Kerr Thompson sacked from the cabinet. Willie Betu took over as Minister of Trade, Industry and Labour, with Stephen Cheka taking over from Betu as Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs.

Mamaloni resigned as Chief Minister on 18 November 1975 over deal with an American firm to mint coins celebrating self-government. However, on 1 December he was re-elected as Chief Minister by the Legislative Assembly, defeating Allan Taki by 18 votes to 4. He appointed a new cabinet with Jeriel Ausuta as Minister of Agriculture and Lands, Benedict Kinika as Minister of Education, Willie Betu as Minister of Finance, Pulepada Ghemu as Minister of Foreign Trade, Industry and Labour, Francis Kikolo as Minister of Health and Welfare, Jonathan Fiifii'i as Minister of Home Affairs, David Thuguvoda as Minister of Natural Resources and Ashley Wickham as Minister of Works and Public Utilities. Five of the nine ministers were members of USIP, two were from the PPP and one was an independent.