Country information

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Area: 1.35m sq km (850,000 sq miles)
Population: 530,000
Capital City: Honiara
People: Melanesian (93%), Polynesian (4%), Micronesian (1.5%), Europeans and Chinese.
Languages: The official language is English but the most widely used is Pidgin. There are 92 indigenous languages (census 1999).
Religion(s): Most people are Christian (45% Anglican, 18% Roman Catholic, 12% Methodist-Presbyterian, 9% Baptist, 7% Seventh Day Adventist). People adhere to the extended family or Wantok system. Traditional beliefs often co-exist with Christianity.
Currency: Solomon Islands Dollar (SBD)
Political System: Westminster-style parliamentary democracy.
Major Political Parties: There are currently nine registered parties: Peoples Alliance Party (PAP), Democratic Party (DP), People's Progressive Party (PPP), United Party (UP), National Party (NP), Liberal Party (LP), Association of Independent Members (AIM), Lafari Party (LP) and Social Credit Party (SOCRED).
Government: The Solomon Islands has a democratically elected 50 member unicameral Parliament which chooses the Prime Minister and Governor General.
Last election: 5 April 2006
Next election due: 2010
Head of State: Her Majesty The Queen, represented by HE Sir Nathaniel Waena, Governor General.
Prime Minister: The Hon Dr Derek Sikua
Foreign Minister: William Haomae
Membership of international groups/organisations: The Solomon Islands is a member of the: Commonwealth, Pacific Islands Forum, South Pacific Forum, the United Nations (UN), the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank.

HEALTH

The collapse of the economy and severe shortage of government funds has severely restricted the government's ability to provide health services - usually via small district clinics and a provincial hospital. The World Health Organisation and the Australian aid agency, AUSAID, have provided core funding since the 1999 crisis to maintain services. Malaria, however, has been on the increase and is the main cause of premature death in the country. Although there are no reliable figures, there are fears that instances of HIV/AIDS are fast increasing. Diabetes, unknown in the country before the 1980s, has become widespread in the country due to poor diet. Many medical elective students from the UK visit the Solomon Islands as part of their studies, their contribution to developing the health system is a useful part of their time here.

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