Ownership, Unity and Responsibility Party
Encyclopedia
The Ownership, Unity and Responsibility Party (or Our Party) is a political party
in the Solomon Islands
.
The party was established on 16 January 2010 (and officially launched a month later) by the leader of the Opposition (and former Prime Minister
), Manasseh Sogavare
, and eight opposition MPs. It intends to contest the upcoming 2010 elections
.
The party has stated its intention to "invest $780 million
over a period of 4 years in the rural economy from our own sources to improve the participation of our people in economic development". Provincial governments would be required to take an active part in rural development. It has also promised to consider whether it may be possible to restore customary ownership of land alienated for public purposes during the colonial era, notably in Honiara
. In this respect, the party said it would be guided by the customary land ownership policy implemented in Vanuatu
.
During the party's official launch mid-February, in Gizo, Sogavare added that, despite "millions of dollars
worth of logs" exported from Western Province
, landowners had received little in the way of revenue or improved government services. He later promised to address citizens' concerns about "the spill-over effects of the Bougainville crisis" on the maritime border with Papua New Guinea
, and emphasised that national unity was "one of the core pillars" of OUR Party.
Later, in the context of the campaign for the 2010 general election
, he stated:
Speaking in the party's name, he has also criticised the country's Truth and Reconciliation Commission
, describing it as costly, excessively academic and guided by "foreign concepts", as opposed to more effective indigenous means of resolving conflicts and their aftermath.
Party secretary general Patterson Oti
stated in May 2010 that the party would decentralise development programmes, to empower the provinces. In June, Sogavare "pledged to commit 6.2 million US$ to help relocate victims of climate change
" if the party won the election.
With 8 MPs, the party is currently the largest formal party in the Solomon Islands Parliament
.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
.
The party was established on 16 January 2010 (and officially launched a month later) by the leader of the Opposition (and former Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands
The Prime Minister of Solomon Islands is Solomon Islands' head of government, consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the National Parliament. Solomon Islands is a Commonwealth realm. Since August 2010, the Prime Minister has been Danny Philip of the Reform...
), Manasseh Sogavare
Manasseh Sogavare
Manasseh Damukana Sogavare was the sixth Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands from 2000 to 2001 and again from 2006 to 2007. He has served in the National Parliament as Member for East Choiseul since 1997, and he is currently the Leader of the Opposition.-Biography:Sogavare was Permanent...
, and eight opposition MPs. It intends to contest the upcoming 2010 elections
Solomon Islands general election, 2010
A general election was held in the Solomon Islands on 4 August 2010. In May 2010, Prime Minister Derek Sikua announced that the election would be held on 4 August, however, this announcement was deemed to be premature, as only the Governor General has the authority to announce the election date...
.
The party has stated its intention to "invest $780 million
Solomon Islands dollar
The dollar is the currency of the Solomon Islands since 1977. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign "$" or, alternatively "SI$" to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
over a period of 4 years in the rural economy from our own sources to improve the participation of our people in economic development". Provincial governments would be required to take an active part in rural development. It has also promised to consider whether it may be possible to restore customary ownership of land alienated for public purposes during the colonial era, notably in Honiara
Honiara
Honiara, population 49,107 , 78,190 , is the capital of the Solomon Islands and of Guadalcanal Province, although it is a separately administered town...
. In this respect, the party said it would be guided by the customary land ownership policy implemented in Vanuatu
Vanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
.
During the party's official launch mid-February, in Gizo, Sogavare added that, despite "millions of dollars
Solomon Islands dollar
The dollar is the currency of the Solomon Islands since 1977. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign "$" or, alternatively "SI$" to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
worth of logs" exported from Western Province
Western Province (Solomon Islands)
Western Province is the largest of the provinces of the Solomon Islands. The area is renowned for its beautiful tropical islands, excellent diving and snorkelling, coral reefs and WWII wrecks, ecotourism lodges, and head-hunting shrines...
, landowners had received little in the way of revenue or improved government services. He later promised to address citizens' concerns about "the spill-over effects of the Bougainville crisis" on the maritime border with Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
, and emphasised that national unity was "one of the core pillars" of OUR Party.
Later, in the context of the campaign for the 2010 general election
Solomon Islands general election, 2010
A general election was held in the Solomon Islands on 4 August 2010. In May 2010, Prime Minister Derek Sikua announced that the election would be held on 4 August, however, this announcement was deemed to be premature, as only the Governor General has the authority to announce the election date...
, he stated:
- "OUR Party is founded on Christian principles. OUR Party is committed to restore the ownership of this country to the people of Solomon Islands, both indigenous and naturalised. We are also committed to the course of national unity. We believe that we can only progress in developing our country if we are united and see each other as brothers and sisters. We are also committed to encouraging responsible leadership at all levels, including personal leadership. We are also committed to empowering our people through a development strategy that is people-centred, rural-focussed and growth-oriented."
Speaking in the party's name, he has also criticised the country's Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Solomon Islands)
The Solomon Islands Truth and Reconciliation Commission is a commission officially established by the government of the Solomon Islands on April 29, 2009. It has been formed to investigate the causes of the ethnic violence that gripped the Solomon Islands between 1997 and 2003...
, describing it as costly, excessively academic and guided by "foreign concepts", as opposed to more effective indigenous means of resolving conflicts and their aftermath.
Party secretary general Patterson Oti
Patterson Oti
John Patteson Oti, sometimes called Patterson Oti, is a politician of the Solomon Islands. He was Minister for Foreign Affairs, External Trade and Immigration from May 2006 to 22 December 2007...
stated in May 2010 that the party would decentralise development programmes, to empower the provinces. In June, Sogavare "pledged to commit 6.2 million US$ to help relocate victims of climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
" if the party won the election.
With 8 MPs, the party is currently the largest formal party in the Solomon Islands Parliament
National Parliament of the Solomon Islands
The National Parliament of Solomon Islands has 50 members, elected for a four year term in 50 single-seat constituencies.It is presided by a Speaker - currently Sir Allan Kemakeza.-Latest elections:-Members:...
.
External links
- An overview of the party's policies and priorities on its launch date (Solomon StarSolomon StarThe Solomon Star is a Solomon Islands daily, English language newspaper, launched on May 25, 1982. It is produced by the Solomon Star Company, whose publisher and director, , is John Lamani. Lamani was also one of the paper's co-founders. The newspaper's editor, , is Ofani Eremae....
)