Solomon Islands

At a glance Land People Economy Achievements and challenges Links with Australia   Solomon Islands at a glance Did you know? There are butterflies with 25 centimetre wingspans living in the Solomon Islands. Region Pacific Population 494,786 (July 2002 estimation) Land Geography:  Hundreds of islands, rugged mountains, volcanic and coral atolls Climate:  Equatorial and tropical monsoonal People Religion: Christian Language: English (Official), Melanesian Pidgin, plus 90 indigenous languages Economy Subsistence agriculture, fishing and forestry Government Parliamentary democracy tending toward anarchy Land Physical geography The Solomon Islands archipelago consists of 922 islands with a total land area of 128,446 square kilometres, located to the east of Papua New Guinea. The six main islands are Guadalcanal, Malaita, New Georgia, Makira, Santa Isabel and Choiseul. The larger islands are volcanic, densely forested mountain ranges with steep, narrow river valleys and thin coastal plains with mangrove and coconut palms. Little of the land is suitable for crops. Coral reefs provide plentiful fishing resources. The outer islands are small, coral atolls. Climate Spread out along the equator, the Solomon Islands experience a tropical monsoonal climate all year round. The mean temperature is 27°C and humidity ranges between 60 and 90%. Annual rainfall is high, ranging from 2000 mm to 3000 mm. Most rain falls between November and April. Cyclones occur regularly during the summer months. Environment The Solomon Islands have over 4500 plant species, including about 230 varieties of orchids. People use many of the plants and trees for building, food, medicine and clothing. Roads link major settlements but few are sealed. Inadequate controls on forestry mean that soil erosion is a major problem. Many surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying. People The Solomon Islanders live in small villages scattered over 347 of its 922 islands. About 30,000 people live in Honiara, the capital city. There is great variation between the people in each settlement and there is a complex communal customary ownership of the land. People Culture and ethnicity The population of Solomon Islands is predominantly Melanesian (about 95%) although there are smaller Polynesian, Micronesian, Chinese and European communities. The social structure is extremely diverse and complex and varies from island to island. Different customs - codes of behaviour, systems of land tenure, leadership rules, blends of traditional and world religions, marriage rules and so on - exist throughout the nation. Most communities recognise strong kinship links and obligations with the broad language group. Carvings can be found throughout the islands, and can range from ornate ritual bowls to miniature canoe souvenirs. Music is played throughout the Solomon Islands using bamboo pipes in a variety of forms, played either in sets or singly, as wind instruments or hitting lengths of bamboo with a rubber thong to produce a range of sounds.  Health People are living longer but malaria and tuberculosis are major problems. The government has been unable to maintain health services and many babies die before their first birthday (67 per 1,000 live births). The leading causes of death in children under the age of five years include acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea, malaria, peri-natal complications and injuries. Religion and beliefs All major Christian denominations are represented in the community - Anglican 45%, Protestant Christians 33%, Roman Catholic 18%, but in many cases these beliefs are held alongside traditional beliefs. Dances, songs and stories about war, hunting, the natural world or the harvesting of crops from the ‘time before’ are part of everyday life. A common belief is that a dead person's spirit lives on for a time in sharks, birds or reptiles. This means these animals may become sacred for a time and ‘tabu’ (forbidden) to eat.  These animals are treated with reverence and called upon in difficult times. Food and shelter Fresh seafood, chicken, green vegetables and tubers cooked in coconut milk or baked in the ground form the basis of most meals. Bush-materials, such as thatched coconut leaves and woven bamboo, are used for housing in the villages. Electricity is generated using imported fuel and is only generally available in five urban centres. Economy Wealth and poverty The country relies heavily on foreign aid as only about 10 per cent of the population is formally employed. Unrest and conflict since 1998 have severely affected the economy of the Solomon Islands, destroying personal property, health and transport infrastructure, schools, water supply and sanitation systems, and government buildings as well as investor confidence. In areas unaffected by the conflict, life continues as a subsistence economy with barter the main form of exchange.                                                                       Education and work Conflict and poverty mean that many children miss out on school education through non-enrolment or dropping out because of the cost of school fees. Most people in the villages are involved in food production - farming or fishing. In the towns most people are involved in the provision of services (20%) and a small number of people are involved in industry (5%).                                                                           Industries and products Main crops are copra, cocoa, palm oil, rice, fruits, vegetables, spices and tobacco. Before the conflict there was some processing of fish (tuna), mining, timber production. Tourism is limited by lack of facilities, but some visitors are attracted by diving opportunities.                                                                           Trade Imports include plant and equipment, manufactured goods, fuels and chemicals. Imports come from Australia (38.5%), Singapore, Japan and New Zealand, while the main export destination is Japan (35.5%). Achievements and challenges Cyclones and earth tremors occur regularly.  Growing population pressures and migration to urban areas continue to place pressure on infrastructure and increase the demand for water, sanitation, housing, education and health services. The literacy rate in Solomon Islands is poor and access to primary and secondary education is limited compared with other Pacific countries. The country also has one of the highest malaria rates in the world. Since 1998, ethnic violence between people of Guadalcanal and people of Malaita living in Honiara has severely disrupted civil society and the economy. Less export income and the departure of many technical and maintenance staff has affected the government’s ability to provide health and education services. The Solomon Islands Government is working to address the serious security, economic and social problems the country is currently facing. Links with Australia In the 1860s large number of Solomon Islanders were recruited, sometimes by force, to work on sugar plantations in Queensland. Australia enjoys a close relationship with the Solomon Islands.  Shipping and air services connect Solomon Islands with Australia and financial links are close, with two Australian commercial banks (ANZ and Westpac) operating in the Solomon Islands.  A number of Australian legal and accounting firms are represented directly or in association with local firms.  An estimated 600 Australians are resident in Solomon Islands, mainly in Honiara, including many engaged in small businesses and in missionary work. Australia has been active in providing increased financial and personnel assistance to address the unrest since 1998. This has included peace building and community support, assistance to the law and justice and health sectors and contributions to encourage economic recovery and improved financial management. In July 2003 Australia led a multi-national team of army and police personnel ‘Helpem Fren’ to help restore law and order.   Further information: www.ausaid.gov.au/hottopics/pacific/solomons.cfm

Children keeping cool in the shade of the verandah of a village house.   Market day is always a hive of activity