Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

August 4th to be Solomon Islands election date

Posted at 05:46 on 26 May, 2010 UTC

Solomon Islanders are expected to go to the polls on August the 4th to elect a new 50-member parliament for a four-year term.

The prime minister, Derek Sikua, reportedly disclosed the date to Solomon Islands students in Papua New Guinea last week.

An official announcement by the Governor-General, Sir Frank Kabui, is however still pending.

Parliament’s last sitting was on April the 24th.

Police have already said they will beef up security for the polling phase following the Honiara riots that ensued the 2006 election of Snyder Rini as prime minister.

He was then succeeded by Manasseh Sogavare who in turn lost power in a no confidence vote in late 2007.