Another female Member of Parliament for the round house
By Mike Puia
Gizo
GIZO/Kolombangara Constituency in the Western Province has a new Member of Parliament (MP). She is Mrs. Lanelle Orlandrea Tanangada.
Mrs. Tanangada is the wife of the former MP of the constituency, Mr. Jimson Tanangada, whom the high court disqualified last November.
The provisional result of the winning candidate was announced by the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) Returning Officer, Christian Siale, at 9pm last night and later officially declared by the Governor General, Sir Frank Kabui via the National Broadcaster, SIBC.
Mrs. Tanangada, a teacher by profession, polled 2,580 votes out of the 5,201 valid votes casted. Six votes were spoilt.
Her strong rival and former Prime Minister, Gordo Darcy Lilo, polled 1,593 votes.
Peter Soqoilo polled 598. Kenneth Bulehite polled 243 votes while Ronald Dive polled 187 votes.
Out of the 12 polling stations counted, Mrs. Tanangada topped eight polling stations. Lilo and Soqoilo topped two polling stations each.
Mrs. Tanangada contested along four male candidates. This is the first time a female won the Gizo/Kolombangara parliamentary seat.
Despite having only seven months remaining before parliament dissolved, Mrs. Tanangada has created history for the current parliament for being the first house to have two female MPs in one term.
There was tenseness when the results were announced to the crowd that waited eagerly outside the police compound.
When the announcement of the winning candidate was made, the crowd dispersed peacefully.
SIEC’s Chief Electoral Officer, Moses Saitala thanked staff of SIEC officers who completed the task despite the delay.
Saitala said he hope everyone will accept the result as it is almost like a landslide.
SIEC’s chairman and speaker of parliament Ajilon Nasiu, SIEC’s Commissioner Taeasi Sanga, the SIEC advisor and overseas observers also preside at the 12-hour counting.
