Solomon Sunaone Mamaloni (23 January 1943 – 11 January 2000) was a Solomon Islands politician. He was the first chief minister of the islands, and later served as the prime minister for three spells in the 1980s and 1990s.
Biography Mamaloni was born in 1943 in Rumahui, Arosi, in West Makira. He was educated at Pawa School and King George VI Secondary School before attending Te Aute College in New Zealand. He joined the civil service in 1966, initially working as an executive officer for the Legislative Council, before becoming a clerk.
He was elected to the Governing Council from the Makira constituency in the 1970 elections. After being re-elected in 1973, he was involved in the establishment of the People's Progressive Party the following January. Later in 1974, the new post of Chief Minister was established, with Mamaloni being elected after the sixth round of voting.Triumph for the Solomons' Solomon Pacific Islands Monthly, October 1974, pp5–6
He served as Chief Minister of the Solomon Islands until July 1976. Although he resigned from the Legislative Assembly in December 1976,What made the Solomons' 'Solo' Go? Pacific Islands Monthly, March 1977, p19 he returned to politics and represented the West Makira constituency in the National Parliament. He was Leader of the Opposition from 1980 to 1981,"Members of the Second Parliament", Solomon Islands Parliament website. 1984 to 1988,"Members of the Third Parliament", Solomon Islands Parliament website. and 1993 to 1994."Members of the Fifth Parliament", Solomon Islands Parliament website. He was again chosen as Leader of the Opposition in late September 1998, replacing Job Dudley Tausinga."Solomon Islands: Former premier back as opposition leader", Radio New Zealand International (nl.newsbank.com), September 30, 1998.
His role as architect of the Solomon Islands' independence from British rule in 1978 buoyed Mamaloni's support, and he served as opposition leader until his death.Obituary in Time magazine
He remained Opposition Leader until his death from kidney disease in a Honiara hospital in January 2000."Solomon Islands' controversial former prime minister Mamaloni dies", Associated Press (nl.newsbank.com), January 12, 2000. His funeral was held on 13 January.List of small publications in the Archives of the Anglican Church of Melanesia (in the National Archives of Solomon Islands) p. 25. (Accessed 25 August 2016)
References
External links worldstatesmen.org: Solomon Islands
Further reading