Steve Abana

Steve William Abana (born 1969 in Fourau, Malaita[1]) is a Solomon Islands politician. He is a former Member of Parliament for Fataleka and was the Leader of Her Majesty's[2] Opposition from August 2010 to March 2011.

The Right Honourable

Steve William Abana

MP
Leader of the Opposition
In office
25 August 2010 – 23 March 2011
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterDanny Philip
Succeeded byDerek Sikua
Minister for National Planning and Aid Coordination
In office
21 December 2007 – 25 August 2010
Prime MinisterDerek Sikua
Succeeded bySnyder Rini
Minister for National Planning and Aid Coordination
In office
16 October 2006 – 10 November 2007
Prime MinisterManasseh Sogavare
Member of Parliament
for Fataleka
Assumed office
5 April 2006
Preceded byCasper Luiramo
Personal details
Born1969
Fourau, Malaita
Political partyDemocratic Party
Alma materFiji National University (FNU)

Abana studied at the Fiji College of Agriculture (FCA), where he obtained a Diploma in Tropical Agriculture. Before his political career, he was a teacher at the Honiara High School. He then entered business, exporting cocoa during the height of the ethnic tension. After being successful, he started Anolpha Enterprises and became the Managing Director.[3]

His career in national politics began when he was elected MP for Fataleka, a constituency in his native Malaita Province, in the April 2006 general election. In October, he benefited from a reshuffle in Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare's Cabinet, and was appointed Minister for National Planning and Aid Coordination. In November 2007, Sogavare dismissed him from office, accusing him of seeking support to oust him from the premiership. The following month, the Sogavare government was toppled by a motion of no confidence, and Abana supported new Prime Minister Derek Sikua, who re-appointed him as Minister for National Planning and Aid Coordination.[4][5]

As leader of the Democratic Party, Abana was a key member of Sikua's Coalition for National Unity and Rural Advancement government. Abana led the Democratic Party into the August 2010 general election, campaigning on a promise of "more recognition to tribal landowners by registering all tribal lands in the name of tribes"; "the implementation of a National Adaptation Plan to address Climate Change for the most vulnerable communities; a focus to improve the standard of living in villages consistent with the Millennium Development Goals"; a pledge "to ensure that 80 percent of energy in the country be produced from renewable resources"; and electoral reform to introduce preferential voting.[6] The election was a comparative success for the Democrats: They obtained thirteen seats (out of fifty), whereas no other party obtained more than three, and Abana was re-elected MP for Fataleka.[7]

Abana then stood for the premiership, against Danny Philip of the breakaway Reformed Democratic Party. Abana received the support of twenty-three MPs, but Philip was elected Prime Minister with the support of twenty-six.[8] Abana became the formal Leader of the Opposition, and appointed the Shadow Cabinet.[9][10]

He stepped down as Leader of the Opposition on 23 March 2011, stating briefly that the Opposition needed to "revive itself".[11] Two weeks later, he joined the ranks of the government, bringing with him several other Opposition MPs.[12][13][14]

See also

References
  1. Biography on the website of the Parliament of Solomon Islands
  2. "Tausinga: I'm with opposition", Solomon Star, 24 January 2011
  3. Biography on the website of the Parliament of Solomon Islands
  4. Biography on the website of the Parliament of Solomon Islands
  5. "Lilo, Abana Sacked for Working Against PM", Solomon Times, 12 November 2007
  6. "Democratic Party launches roadmap" Archived 10 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Island Sun, 8 June 2010
  7. 2010 election data Archived 20 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation
  8. "Solomon Islands names new PM" Archived 4 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Nine News, 25 August 2010
  9. "Abana is new Opposition leader" Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Solomon Star, 1 September 2010
  10. Minutes of the first session of the Ninth Parliament, National Parliament of Solomon Islands
  11. "Abana Steps Down as Opposition Leader", Solomon Times, 23 March 2011
  12. "Solomon Islands' PM stronger after opposition walkouts", ABC Radio Australia, 7 April 2011
  13. "Rick Hou Joins Government", Solomon Times, 7 April 2011
  14. "Govt builds numbers" Archived 19 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Solomon Star, 7 April 2011
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