Solomon Islands politician (born 1964)
Stanley Festus Sofu (born 1964 in Fataolo Village, Malaita Province[2]) is a Solomon Islands politician.
He attended the Honiara Technical Institute from 1981 to 1985, followed by management courses, before working as a heavy plant mechanic. He then obtained a position as a works officer, and eventually as principal works officer, before going into politics. He began his political career as a member of the Provincial Assembly of Malaita Province, becoming Deputy Premier and Education Minister for the Province, before moving on to national politics.[2]
His career in national politics began when he was elected to Parliament as the member for East Kwaio in the April 2006 general election. When Snyder Rini's government was forced to resign in the face of public protests and a motion of no confidence in May, the new prime minister, Manasseh Sogavare, appointed Sofu to Cabinet as Minister for Infrastructure and Development. In November 2007, Sofu joined the Opposition and left the Cabinet, but regained a Cabinet position when Sogavare's government was ousted by a motion of no confidence in December. Sogavare's successor, Derek Sikua, returned Sofu to his post as Minister for Infrastructure and Development, which he then held until August 2010.[2][3]
He retained his seat in Parliament in the August 2010 general election. As a member of the Democratic Party, led by Opposition Leader Steve Abana, he served initially as an Opposition frontbencher; Abana appointed him Shadow Minister for Infrastructure Development.[4] In December, however, in a Cabinet reshuffle prompted by the sacking of two ministers, Sofu defected to the government and was promoted to Cabinet as Minister for Public Service.[5] The following month, he defected back to the Opposition, two days after four other ministers had moved to the Opposition.[6] On February 20, he defected to the government once more, following four other MPs who had moved from the Opposition to the government in the preceding days. He was restored to his position as Minister for Public Service.[7]
On April 18, Philip removed him from Cabinet in a reshuffle to make way for five Opposition members who had just joined the government ranks. Sofu was succeeded by Ricky Houeniopwela, who like him was formally aligned with the Democratic Party.[8]
When Gordon Darcy Lilo became prime minister in November 2011, Sofu sat on the government backbenches. On 22 October 2012, he was promoted to the position of Minister for Public Service, as part of a Cabinet reshuffle.[9]
References
- ^ 2010 election data Archived 2010-12-20 at the Wayback Machine, Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation
- ^ a b c Biography on the website of the Parliament of Solomon Islands
- ^ "PM Speaks Out Against Intimidation of MPs", Solomon Times, November 15, 2007
- ^ "Abana is new Opposition leader" Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine, Solomon Star, September 1, 2010
- ^ "Bodo picks up fisheries" Archived 2010-12-11 at the Wayback Machine, Solomon Star, December 9, 2010
- ^ "Two more ministers resign from NCRA"[permanent dead link], Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, January 22, 2010
- ^ "MP returns to Solomons government". Radio New Zealand International. 21 February 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
- ^ "Ministers axed: Replacement sworn in" Archived 2012-04-02 at the Wayback Machine, Solomon Star, 19 April 2011
- ^ "Ministers Fired and Replaced", Solomon Times, 23 October 2012
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