11 Aug 2010

Results declared in all but one Solomon Islands seat

8:59 pm on 11 August 2010

Results have now been declared in 49 of the 50 constituencies in the Solomon Islands election, and negotiations are already well underway to form a coalition.

But another transportation breakdown is causing more delays in the last outstanding constituency.

Jo O'Brien reports

"A ship carrying 17 electoral officials and police officers, and four ballot boxes from Ontong Java in the Malaita Outer Islands constituency, has broken down on its return to Honiara. That follows the breakdown of a ship carrying election officials and supplies to Ongtong Java a week before the election, which forced the vote to be held on Monday, five days after the rest of the country. The Electoral Commission says it's already sent another ship to pick up the ballot boxes and is hopeful they can be counted in Honiara on Friday. Coalition negotiations are continuing in the capital as new MPs arrive, with suggestions of votebuying already emerging."