9 Aug 2010

Derek Sikua returned in the Solomons election

2:07 pm on 9 August 2010

The caretaker Prime Minister Derek Sikua has just been returned to parliament as counting continues in the Solomon Islands election.

The Electoral Commission now expects counting to be completed on Thursday.

Jo O'Brien reports.

"Dr Sikua reclaimed his constituency of North-East Guadalcanal by a wide margin of 16-hundred votes. People are now speculating he will be in the running to be the Prime Minister in the new government with contenders such as the former Deputy Prime Minister Fred Fono losing out in his constituency. Other candidates for the top job could include Gordon Darcy Lilo, Steve Abana, Job Tausinga, Danny Philips and Manasseh Sogavare although Mr Sogovare's OUR party is not faring as well as expected. Winning MPs have now been advised to come to Honiara to begin to attempt to form a coalition and elect the Prime Minister. Meanwhile counting is set to resume in Malaita today following the burning of ballot papers on Friday while Ontong Java will hold its election today and will be the last votes to be counted on Thursday."