Francis Billy Hilly
Encyclopedia
Francis Billy Hilly CMG
(born 20 July 1948) is a Solomon Islands
politician who was the fourth Prime Minister
of the Solomon Islands from 18 June 1993 to 7 November 1994. He represented the Ranogga/Simbo Constituency
in the National Parliament
from 1976 to 1984, and has represented the constituency again since 1993. Hilly has been Minister of Commerce, Industry and Employment since December 2007.
Hilly was elected to the First Parliament in 1976 and was re-elected in 1980 to the Second Parliament, which sat until 1984. He returned to Parliament in May 1993 and has been re-elected in every election since: in August 1997, December 2001, and April 2006. He was appointed Prime Minister after the 1993 election, but in October 1994 resigned following a vote of no-confidence in Parliament. This was allegedly brought about by parliamentarians accepting bribes paid by logging companies.
After serving as Prime Minister, he was Leader of the Opposition
from 1994 to 1995. He was one of two candidates nominated by the government for the position of Prime Minister in June 2000, but the opposition's candidate, Manasseh Sogavare
, was elected. In July 2004 he became Leader of the Opposition again, receiving five votes from the eight members of the opposition who were present and defeating the other candidate for the position, Alfred Sasako. Following his election, he said that, unlike the two previous Opposition Leaders, he would not cross the floor to join the government, stressing the importance of the role of Opposition Leader. He remained Leader of the Opposition until 4 April 2006.
Hilly opposed the election of Snyder Rini
as Prime Minister on April 18 2006, alleging that bribes were used to gain votes for Rini and that the election was "was controlled and influenced by outsiders". In May 2006, Hilly became Minister of Commerce, Industries and Employment under Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare
. However, in August 2006 he was dismissed from that position, a decision that he said was primarily due to an agreement between his National Party
and the People's Republic of China
in 2005; the Solomon Islands recognizes the Republic of China
(Taiwan).
He has also served for periods as Minister for Home Affairs and as Minister for Health and Medical Services and Deputy Prime Minister. In Parliament, he was Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee from 15 November 2004 to 5 December 2005 and became Chairman of the Parliamentary House Committee on 10 May 2006.
After Sogavare was defeated in a no-confidence vote in December 2007, Hilly again became Minister of Commerce, Industry and Employment under Prime Minister Derek Sikua
on December 22 2007.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(born 20 July 1948) is a 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...
politician who was the fourth 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...
of the Solomon Islands from 18 June 1993 to 7 November 1994. He represented the Ranogga/Simbo Constituency
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...
in the National 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:...
from 1976 to 1984, and has represented the constituency again since 1993. Hilly has been Minister of Commerce, Industry and Employment since December 2007.
Hilly was elected to the First Parliament in 1976 and was re-elected in 1980 to the Second Parliament, which sat until 1984. He returned to Parliament in May 1993 and has been re-elected in every election since: in August 1997, December 2001, and April 2006. He was appointed Prime Minister after the 1993 election, but in October 1994 resigned following a vote of no-confidence in Parliament. This was allegedly brought about by parliamentarians accepting bribes paid by logging companies.
After serving as Prime Minister, he was Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (Solomon Islands)
The Leader of the Opposition in Solomon Islands is a Member of Parliament who commands a large minority of his peers, united in loyal opposition to government...
from 1994 to 1995. He was one of two candidates nominated by the government for the position of Prime Minister in June 2000, but the opposition's candidate, 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...
, was elected. In July 2004 he became Leader of the Opposition again, receiving five votes from the eight members of the opposition who were present and defeating the other candidate for the position, Alfred Sasako. Following his election, he said that, unlike the two previous Opposition Leaders, he would not cross the floor to join the government, stressing the importance of the role of Opposition Leader. He remained Leader of the Opposition until 4 April 2006.
Hilly opposed the election of Snyder Rini
Snyder Rini
Snyder Rini is a Solomon Islands politician who was briefly the eighth Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands from April to May 2006 and has been Minister for Finance and Treasury since December 2007...
as Prime Minister on April 18 2006, alleging that bribes were used to gain votes for Rini and that the election was "was controlled and influenced by outsiders". In May 2006, Hilly became Minister of Commerce, Industries and Employment under Prime Minister 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...
. However, in August 2006 he was dismissed from that position, a decision that he said was primarily due to an agreement between his National Party
National Party (Solomon Islands)
The National Party is a political party in the Solomon Islands.At the legislative elections on 5 April 2006, the party won 6.9 % of the vote and 4 out of 50 seats....
and the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
in 2005; the Solomon Islands recognizes the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
(Taiwan).
He has also served for periods as Minister for Home Affairs and as Minister for Health and Medical Services and Deputy Prime Minister. In Parliament, he was Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee from 15 November 2004 to 5 December 2005 and became Chairman of the Parliamentary House Committee on 10 May 2006.
After Sogavare was defeated in a no-confidence vote in December 2007, Hilly again became Minister of Commerce, Industry and Employment under Prime Minister Derek Sikua
Derek Sikua
David Derek Sikua served as the ninth Prime Minister of Solomon Islands from December 20, 2007 to August 25, 2010. He is a member of the Solomon Islands Liberal Party.-Career:Sikua is from Ngalitavethi Village in Guadalcanal Province...
on December 22 2007.