Peter Kenilorea

For his son, the Solomon Islander politician, seePeter Kenilorea Jr.

The Right Honourable Sir Peter Kenilorea KBE
Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands
In office 19 November 1984 – 1 December 1986
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Solomon Mamaloni
Succeeded by	Ezekiel Alebua
In office 7 July 1978 – 31 August 1981
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Solomon Mamaloni
Personal details
Born	(1943-05-23)23 May 1943 Takataka,Malaita,British Solomon Islands
Died	24 February 2016(2016-02-24)(aged 72) Honiara, Solomon Islands
Political party	Solomon Islands United Party

Sir Peter KeniloreaKBE(23 May 1943 – 24 February 2016) was aSolomon Islanderpolitician, officially styledThe Rt Hon. Sir Peter Keniloreaas a member of thePrivy Council of the United Kingdom.He was the first prime minister of an independent Solomon Islands, from 1978–1981, and also served a second term from 1984–1986.

Early life and education

Kenilorea was born in Takataka village onMalaitaisland, ofꞌAreꞌareethnicity.

Kenilorea attended school in Malaita andHoniara.He then received a scholarship to study in New Zealand, where he attendedWesley College,Whanganui Collegiate School,and Ardmore College. He trained to be a teach while at Ardmore, and he began work as a schoolteacher after returning to Malaita.He was trained as a teacher for theSouth Seas Evangelical Churchand a co-founder of theSolomon Islands Christian Association.

Kenilorea had a wife, Margaret, and had sevenor eight children.

Political career

Kenilorea got involved in politics and became a founding member of theSolomon Islands United Party.In the1973 general electionshe ran in theꞌAreꞌare constituency,losing toDavid Kausimae.

He was asked to start a campaign in the1976 electionto be the representative for his district in Malaita. When Kenilorea asked who else was in consideration, he was informed that all six of the other potential candidates withdrew so he could run.He was elected toNational Parliamentin theEast ꞌAreꞌare constituency.

As the Solomon Islands developed a serious movement to declare independence from the United Kingdom, Kenilorea became the colonial administration's chief minister and a major figure of the independence movement. Kenilorea was critical of British rule over the Solomon Islands, alleging that it failed to advance the nation economically and condemning it for building only one school. He was involved in the independence negotiations that took place in London.

After the Solomon Islands became an independent country in 1978, Kenilorea became the firstPrime Minister of Solomon Islands.The country had yet to develop a distinct national identity, and he found himself with the duties of a cultural leader as well as a political one. He was only 35 years old when he took office, in a nation which traditionally associated leadership with elders. He reconciled this with his belief that traditional leadership could exist among the people but that national leadership should be run by the well-educated.

Under Kenilorea's leadership, the United Party held its plurality with 16 seats in the National Parliament after the1980 election.The Independent Group and its 15 seats also supported Kenilorea, allowing for his re-election as prime minister.The opposition leaderSolomon Mamalonibegan raising policy issues that would cause disputes between the United Party and the independents. By 1981, the six independents that had been appointed to Kenilorea's government resigned their posts.That October, Kenilorea's government was dissolved after amotion of no confidence.Mamaloni succeeded Kenilorea as prime minister.

Kenilorea returned as prime minister after the1984 election,with 21 members of the National Parliament supporting for him and only 13 supporting Mamaloni.As prime minister, he organised the nation's provincial system of government and passed tribal land rights into law. Kenilorea served as prime minister until 1986.He resigned after being implicated in a financial scandal, and he was succeeded by his Deputy Prime Minister,Ezekiel Alebua.Kenilorea then becameMinister of Foreign Affairs,serving in this role from 1988 to 1989 and from 1990 to 1993.

When ethnic conflict broke out between two militant groups, theMalaita Eagle Forceand theIsatabu Freedom Movement,Kenilorea was one of the leaders of peace talks in 2000. He was seen as a unifying figure who had the respect of both groups.Along withPaul Tovua,he became co-chairman of the peace talks.He then became chairman of the Peace Monitoring Council. From 2001 to 2010, Kenilorea was theSpeaker of Parliament.He was a candidate for the post ofGovernor-Generalin mid-June 2004, but he received only 8 of 41 votes in Parliament, placing second behindNathaniel Waena,who received 27 votes.He subsequently sought to return to the National Parliament and was an unsuccessful candidate in aby-election in East ꞌAreꞌarein August 2012.

Death and legacy

Kenilorea died on 24 February 2016 following a period of illness.His funeral was held in Honiara on 1 March, which was made a special public holiday as a national day of mourning. His body waslain in statein the parliament.

Kenilorea is recognised as thefounding fatherof the Solomon Islands.

Kenilorea's sonPeter Kenilorea Jr.was elected a member of parliament in April 2019.

External links

• "Realising political stability".Transcript of Sir Peter Kenilorea's opening address at a conference on "Political Parties and Integrity Reform",Honiara,August 30, 2008