Travel to Solomon Islands |
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Must See - Properties on UNESCO World Heritage List
Last Minute Tips Before you Travel to Solomon Islands
- Time Zone: GMT/UTC +11
- Electricity: 230/240V, 50Hz (bring an adapter/transformer for your hair drier, laptop, cellullar phone etc.)
- Currency: Solomon Islands Dollar (S$ or SBD)
- Country Dialing Code:677
Solomon Islands
Location
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea
Capital
Honiara
Population
538,032 (July 2005 est.)
Regions
9 provinces and 1 capital territory*; Central, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona, Temotu, Western
Climate
tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather
Ethnic groups
Melanesian 94.5%, Polynesian 3%, Micronesian 1.2%, other 1.1%, unspecified 0.2% (1999 census)
Religions
Church of Melanesia 32.8%, Roman Catholic 19%, South Seas Evangelical 17%, Seventh-Day Adventist 11.2%, United Church 10.3%, Christian Fellowship Church 2.4%, other Christian 4.4%, other 2.4%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.2% (1999 census)
Languages
Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca; English is official but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population
note: 120 indigenous languages
Government type
parliamentary democracy
Background
The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the bitterest fighting of World War II occurred on these islands. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence two years later. Ethnic violence, government malfeasance, and endemic crime have undermined stability and civil society. In June 2003, Prime Minister Sir Allen KEMAKEZA sought the assistance of Australia in reestablishing law and order; the following month, an Australian-led multinational force arrived to restore peace and disarm ethnic militias. The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has been very effective in restoring law and order and rebuilding government institutions.
Visitor's Impressions
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