Solomon Islands 
 

1893 - c.1906                            c.1906 - 10 Mar 1947                      10 Mar 1947 - 24 Sep 1956                           24 Sep 1956 - 1966                           1966 - 18 Nov 1977                          Adopted 18 Nov 1977   Map of Solomon Islands Hear National Anthem "God Save Our Solomon Islands" Text of National Anthem Adopted 1978 Constitution (7 Jul 1978) Capital: Honiara (Tulagi 1893-1952) Currency: Solomon Islands Dollar (SBD)  National Holiday: 7 Jul (1978) Independence Day Population: 566,842 (2007) GDP: $800 million (2002) Exports: $171 million (2004) Imports: $159 million (2004) Ethnic groups: Melanesian 93%, Polynesian 4%, other Micronesian 1.5%, other 1.5% (2002) Total Police Force: 475 (2003) RAMSI and Australian Forces: 1,050 (Apr. 2006) Merchant marine: None (2006)  Religions: Christian 90.8% (of which Protestant 74% [incl. Church of Melanesia (Anglican) 38.2%], Roman Catholic 10.8%), traditional beliefs 3.8%, other 6.1% (2000) International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, ADB, APM, C, CTBT (signatory), CWC, ENMOD, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, KP, MIGA, OPCW, PC, PIF, UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNHCR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO Solomon Islands Index Chronology 17 Feb 1568                Discovered by Spanish explorer Álvaro de Mendaña                              y Neyra, named Islas de Salomon. 1767                       British mariner Philip Carteret entered Solomon                              waters. Apr 1885                   German protectorate over northern Solomon Islands                              (Deutschen Salomon Inseln)(Buka, Bougainville,                              Choiseul, Santa Isabel, and Ontong Java islands)                              (see Papua New Guinea). 15 Mar 1893                British protectorate over southern islands                              (British Solomon Islands Protectorate)                              (New Georgia, Guadalcanal, Malaita, and San                              Cristobal islands). 15 Mar 1893 - Jul 1971     Part of the British Western Pacific Territories. 1898                       Britian annexes the Santa Cruz, Rennell and                              Bellona Islands. 14 Nov 1899                Germany transfers Choiseul, Santa Isabel, the                              Shortland, and Ontong Java islands to British                              Solomon Islands, but retains Bougainville                               and Buka Islands (effective 1900).   3 May 1942 - Dec 1943     Occupied by Japan (Tulagi 3 May 1942 - 9 Aug 1942,                               Guadalcanal 7 Jul 1942 - Feb 1943, remaining                              troops surrender on 5 Sep 1945). 28 Aug 1973                Limited autonomy. 22 Jun 1975                Renamed Solomon Islands.  2 Jan 1976                Self-government  7 Jul 1978                Independence from Britain (Solomon Islands). 24 Jul 2003 -              Intervention of Australian led Regional Assistance                              Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI). Provinces Historic Maps of Solomon Islands

Resident Commissioners (subordinated to the high commissioner for the
British Western Pacific [to 3 Jul 1952 the governor of Fiji])
1893 - 1896                None
1896 - 1915                Charles Morris Woodford            (b. 1852 - d. 1937)
1915 - 1917                Frederick Joshua Barnett           (b. 1859 - d. 19..)
1917 - 1921                Charles Rufus Marshall Workman     (b. 1874 - d. 1942)
1921 - 1929                Richard Rutledge Kane
1929 - 1939                Francis Noel Ashley                (b. 1884 - d. 1976)
1939 - 1943                William Sydney Marchant            (b. 1894 - d. 1953)
Japanese Commanders 
1942 - 1945                Hyakatuke Seikichi                 (b. 1888 - d. 1947) 
1945 -  5 Sep 1945         Kanda Masatane 
Resident Commissioners 
1943 - 1950                Owen Cyril Noel                    (b. 1898)
1945                       Alexander Nicol Anton Waddell      (b. 1913 - d. 1999)
                             (acting for Noel)
1950 -  1 Jan 1953         Henry Graham Gregory-Smith         (b. 1899)
High Commissioners for the Western Pacific
(exercising direct administration at Honiara, Solomon Islands, from 1 Jan 1953)
 3 Jul 1952 - 1955         Robert Christopher Stafford        (b. 1899 - d. 1981) 
                             Stanley 
1955 -  4 Mar 1961         John Gutch                         (b. 1905 - d. 1988)
                             (from 1957, Sir John Gutch) 
 4 Mar 1961 - 16 Jun 1964  David Trench                       (b. 1915 - d. 1988)
                             (from 1962, Sir David Trench)
16 Jun 1964 - 1969         Sir Robert Sidney Foster           (b. 1913 - d. 2005)
 6 Mar 1969 - 1973         Sir Michael David Irving Gass      (b. 1916 - d. 1983)
Governors
1973 -  2 Jan 1976         Donald Collin Cumyn Luddington     (b. 1920)
 2 Jan 1976 -  7 Jul 1978  Colin Hamilton Allan               (b. 1921 - d. 1993)
                             (from 1977, Sir Colin Hamilton Allan) 
Queen¹
 7 Jul 1978 -              the Queen of the United Kingdom
Governors-general (representing the British monarch as head of state)
 7 Jul 1978 -  7 Jul 1988  Baddeley Devesi                    (b. 1941)
                             (from 22 Feb 1980, Sir Baddeley Devesi) 
 7 Jul 1988 -  7 Jul 1994  George Gerea Dennis Lepping        (b. 1947)
                             (from 17 Aug 1988, Sir George Gerea Dennis Lepping)
 7 Jul 1994 -  7 Jul 1999  Moses Puibangara Pitakaka          (b. 1945)
                             (from 31 Mar 1995, Sir Moses Puibangara Pitakaka) 
 7 Jul 1999 -  7 Jul 2004  John Ini Lapli                     (b. 1955) 
                             (from 21 Oct 1999, John Ini Lapli) 
 7 Jul 2004 -              Nathaniel Rahumaea Waena           (b. 1945)
                             (from 31 Dec 2004, Sir Nathaniel Rahumaea Waena)
 

Chairman of the government council
28 Aug 1973 - 28 Aug 1974  Silas Sitai                        (b. 1920 - d. ....)
Chief ministers
28 Aug 1974 - 14 Jul 1976  Solomon Mamaloni                   (b. 1943 - d. 2000)  PPP
14 Jul 1976 -  7 Jul 1978  Peter Kenilorea                    (b. 1943)            SIUPA
Prime ministers
 7 Jul 1978 - 31 Aug 1981  Peter Kenilorea (1st time)         (s.a.)               SIUPA
31 Aug 1981 - 19 Nov 1984  Solomon Sunaone Mamaloni (1st time)(s.a.)               PAP
19 Nov 1984 -  1 Dec 1986  Sir Peter Kenilorea (2nd time)     (s.a.)               SIUPA
 1 Dec 1986 - 28 Mar 1989  Ezekiel Alebua                     (b. 1947)            SIUPA
28 Mar 1989 - 18 Jun 1993  Solomon Sunaone Mamaloni (2nd time)(s.a.)               PAP/GUNR
18 Jun 1993 -  7 Nov 1994  Francis Billy Hilly                (b. 1947)          Non-party/NCP
 7 Nov 1994 - 27 Aug 1997  Solomon Sunaone Mamaloni (3rd time)(s.a.)               GNUR
27 Aug 1997 - 30 Jun 2000  Bartholomew Ulufa'alu              (b. 1950 - d. 2007)  SILP-SIAC
                             (MEF hostage 5 Jun 2000 - 27 Jun 2000)
30 Jun 2000 - 17 Dec 2001  Manasseh D. Sogavare (1st time)    (b. 1954)            PPP
17 Dec 2001 - 20 Apr 2006  Sir Allan Kemakeza                 (b. 1951)            PAP
20 Apr 2006 -  4 May 2006  Snyder Rini                        (b. 1949)            AIM
 4 May 2006 - 20 Dec 2007  Manasseh D. Sogavare (2nd time)    (s.a.)               SISCP
20 Dec 2007 -              Derek Sikua                        (b. 1959)            SILP-SIAC

Special Coordinators of the Regional Assistance
Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI)
24 Jul 2003 - 27 Aug 2004  Nick Warner (Australia)
27 Aug 2004 -  9 Nov 2006  James Batley (Australia)
 9 Nov 2006 -              Tim George (Australia)  

  ¹Full style: "By the Grace of God Queen of Solomon Islands and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth."

Party abbreviations: AIM = Association of Independent Members of Parliament; GNUR = Group for National Unity and Reconciliation (Solomon Islands National Unity, Reconciliation and Progress Party, personalist); IFM = Isatabu Freedom Movement (paramilitary, ethnic Guadalcanal islander regionalist); MEF = Malaita Eagle Force (paramilitary, ethnic Malaita islander regionalist); NCP = National Coalition Partnership; PAP = People's Alliance Party (social-democratic); 
PPP = People's Progress Party; RAP = Rural Advancement Party; SISCP = Solomon Islands Social Credit Party ("Socreds", pro-social credit monetary policy); SILP-SIAC = Solomon Islands Liberal Party-Solomon Islands Alliance for Change; SIUPA = Solomon Islands United Party (conservative)