The original draft constitution passed by the Legislative Assembly in March 1977 provided for Solomon Islands become a republic one year after independence, unless a two-thirds majority in the national parliament voted to retain the monarchy.
[1] British officials opposed this formula on the grounds that it was too complicated and that Solomon Islands should make a final choice as to become a monarchy or republic upon independence.
[2] Negotiations in London in September 1977 between Solomons leaders and the British government eventually produced a final draft constitution which omitted references to a republic.
[5] The preamble to the constitution commits Solomon Islands to "democratic principles of universal suffrage and declares that:[6] All power in Solomon Islands belongs to its people and is exercised on their behalf by the legislature, the executive and the judiciary established by this Constitution.Section 114 of the constitution requires the National Parliament to "consider the role of traditional chiefs in the provinces".
[8] Kenilorea was subsequently replaced as prime minister by his opponent Solomon Mamaloni, who favoured an executive presidency and appointed a committee to revise the constitution on those lines.
The committee's report presented in 1988 again recommended abolition of the monarchy as part of a wider process of indigenisation, with only indigenous Solomon Islanders eligible to become president.