Biographical entry: Sikua, David Derek (1959 - )
- Born
- 10 October 1959
- Occupation
- Prime Minister
Details
David Derek Sikua, from Ngalitavethi village in the east Tasimboko (Tathimboko) area of Guadalcanal Province, was born on 10 October 1959. He is a leading educationalist and parliamentarian, and the ninth Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands. He attended Kulu Junior Primary School (1966-1969), Maravovo Senior Primary School (1970-1973), and Selwyn College (1974-1978). He completed a Diploma in Education in Teaching, Secondary School English and Social Science at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji (1979-1981), a Bachelor of Education majoring in educational planning and project management at the University of Southern Queensland (in 1985), a Master of Education Policy at Administration and Monash University (1991-1992), and a PhD in Education Decentralisation at the University of Waikato in New Zealand (1998-2003).
Sikua was a teacher and Deputy Headmaster at All Hallows' Secondary School at Pawa (q.v.) on Ugi (1982-1984), and teacher and Deputy Principal at Waimapura National Secondary School (August to December 1984 and January to July 1986). His public service career began when he became Principal Education Officer in the Implementation and Planning Unit (1986 to 1987), Director of the Implementation and Planning Unit (1988-1990), and Director of the Secondary School Division (January to February 1993), all within the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development. He became Under Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development from April 1993 to February 1994; Permanent Secretary of the same Ministry from February 1994 to November 1997; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Forests, Environment and Conservation from November 1997 to January 1998; Permanent Secretary with Special Duties at the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development from May 2003 to 7 September 2003; and again Permanent Secretary of the same Ministry from 8 September 2003 to 31 December 2005. In April 2006 he was elected to the National Parliament as member for the North East Guadalcanal constituency, and on 4 May 2006 became Minister for Education and Human Resources Development in the Sogavare Government. In November 2007 he joined the Opposition, and after Sogavare was defeated in a 13 December 2007 motion of no-confidence, he was elected as Prime Minister on 20 December 2007. He retained his seat but lost power following the August 2010 general election and joined the Opposition. On 29 March 2011 he was elected as Leader of the Opposition.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wili/Derek_Sikua; http://www.parliament.gov.sb/index.php?q=node/217 [both accessed 14 Apr. 2011])