Governor-General of Solomon Islands

Governor-General of Solomon Islands
Viceroy
Coat of Arms of Solomon Islands
Incumbent: Sir Frank Kabui GCMG CSI OBE since 7 July 2009
Style:	His Excellency
Appointed by:	Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Solomon Islands
First:	Sir Baddeley Devesi
Formation:	7 July 1978
Term length:	At Her Majesty's pleasure

Solomon Islands
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The Governor-General of Solomon Islands is the representative of the Queen of Solomon Islands, Elizabeth II. The Queen does not reside in the islands, and so the Governor-General serves as the country's de facto head of state in her absence.

Solomon Islands is a Commonwealth realm which has retained the monarchy of the nation's former colonial power, the United Kingdom, as its own distinct monarchy. The Governors-General of most other Commonwealth realms are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister of each realm. However, in Solomon Islands, the Governor-General is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the National Parliament to a five-year term. In practice, this means that the Governor-General is elected by the parliament.

Though the office holds considerable reserve powers, it is largely a symbolic figurehead position with little day-to-day involvement in government.

The current Governor-General is Sir Frank Kabui, a former High Court judge, who was elected on 15 June 2009 after four rounds of voting. Kabui polled 30 votes, Edmund Andresen eight votes and the outgoing Governor General, Sir Nathaniel Waena seven votes. His term will end on 7 July 2014.

Prior to the country's independence and the establishment of this office, the islands were governed by a Governor and the Executive Council.

Governors-General of the Solomon Islands

	Name	Term	Sovereign	Notes
1	Sir Baddeley Devesi	7 July 1978 – 7 July 1988	Queen Elizabeth II	Served as Governor-General for two consecutive terms.
2	Sir George Lepping	7 July 1988 – 7 July 1994
3	Sir Moses Pitakaka	7 July 1994 – 7 July 1999
4	Sir John Lapli	7 July 1999 – 7 July 2004		Held as hostage by the MEF rebels for a few days in June 2000.
5	Sir Nathaniel Waena	7 July 2004 – 7 July 2009
6	Sir Frank Kabui	7 July 2009 – Present

See also

• List of colonial heads of the Solomon Islands