Solomon Islands Social Credit Party

Solomon Islands Social Credit Party
LeaderManasseh Sogavare
FoundedJuly 2005
DissolvedBy 2010
Succeeded byOwnership, Unity and Responsibility Party
IdeologySocial credit
National affiliationSolomon Islands Alliance for Change

The Solomon Islands Social Credit Party ("Socreds") was a political party in the Solomon Islands that espoused social credit theories of monetary reform. It opposed foreign interference in the economy of the country.[1]

It was led by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, previously leader of the People's Progressive Party[2] and the former Member of Parliament for East Choiseul. Sogavare launched the party in July 2005, backed by Filipino businessman Ramon Quitales.[3] Other prominent party members included Clay Forau Soalaoi.[4]

It was a member of a four-party coalition, the Solomon Islands Alliance for Change, which included the National Party, Solomon Islands Liberal Party, and the Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement, and groups of independents from Honiara, Malaita and Guadalcanal.[5]

The party opposes foreign control of the economy, and advocates a full monetary and financial reform in line with the ideology of social credit. It believes that the islands' poverty can only be addressed through social credit monetary reform.[6] The party traced its origins to the New Zealand Social Credit Party and one of its leaders, Bruce Beetham, who hosted a Solomon Islands student in his home. That student, Solomon Mamaloni, later became prime minister of the Solomon Islands.[7]

The party, running candidates for the first time, contested 29 constituencies in the 2006 general election. The party won 4.3% of the vote and 2 seats. In 2007, the party had around 10,000 members.[8] Soon after, it was dissolved and absorbed by the Ownership, Unity and Responsibility Party, again led by Sogavare.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ Cavanough, Edward Acton (2023-09-19). Divided Isles: Solomon Islands and the China Switch. Black Inc. ISBN 978-1-74382-328-6.
  2. ^ "Q&A: Solomon Islands vote". BBC News. 4 April 2006. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  3. ^ "New political party launched in the Solomon Islands", Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation text website (nl.newsbank.com), July 11, 2005.
  4. ^ Fraenkel, Jon (2006). "The Impact of RAMSI on the 2006 Elections in the Solomon Islands". Political Science. 58 (2): 63–85. doi:10.1177/003231870605800205. hdl:1885/54631. ISSN 0032-3187.
  5. ^ [1][permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ "SOLOMON IS: New political party challanges [sic] country's leadership". ABC Pacific Beat. 2005-07-13. Archived from the original on 2007-03-13. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  7. ^ Michael Field (2006-04-16). "Solomons leaders who led country into civil war contest premiership". Archived from the original on 2007-03-12. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  8. ^ Hassall, Graham (2016). Democracy in the Pacific: Tensions between system and Life-world. pp. 313–360.
  9. ^ "IPU PARLINE database: SOLOMON ISLANDS (National Parliament), ELECTIONS IN 2010". archive.ipu.org. Retrieved 2024-03-11.