Clay Forau Soalaoi

The Right Honourable
Clay Forau Soalaoi
MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade
In office
27 February 2012 – 2014
Prime MinisterGordon Darcy Lilo
Preceded byPeter Shannel Agovaka
Succeeded byMilner Tozaka
Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services
In office
21 November 2011 – 27 February 2012
Prime MinisterGordon Darcy Lilo
Preceded byhimself (prior to resignation)
Succeeded byDavid Tome
Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services
In office
18 April 2011 – 9 November 2011
Prime MinisterDanny Philip
Preceded byJames Tora
Succeeded byhimself (after 12-day vacancy)
Minister for Health and Medical Services
In office
5 May 2006 – 21 December 2007
Prime MinisterManasseh Sogavare
Minister for Justice and Legal Affairs
In office
22 April 2006 – 5 May 2006
Prime MinisterSnyder Rini
Leader of the Independent Members
In office
30 August 2010 – 7 April 2011
Member of Parliament
for Temotu Vatud
Incumbent
Assumed office
5 April 2006
Preceded byHudson Teava Rangissearofa
Personal details
Born (1976-10-10) 10 October 1976 (age 48)
Namo Village, Tikopia
Political partySocial Credit Party, then
People's Federation Party

Clay Forau Soalaoi, more commonly referred to as Clay Forau, (born 10 October 1976[1]) is a Solomon Islands politician.

He was first elected to Parliament, representing the Temotu Vatud constituency, at the 2006 general election, in April. From 22 April to 5 May, he served briefly as Minister for Justice and Legal Affairs, under Prime Minister Snyder Rini. When Rini was forced to resign in the face of public protests and a motion of no confidence, Forau supported his successor Manasseh Sogavare, and was appointed Minister for Health and Medical Services. He was also a member of Sogavare's Social Credit Party.[2] He held this position until December 2007, when Prime Minister Sogavare was himself ousted in a vote of no confidence and Derek Sikua named a new Cabinet.[3][4]

In January 2008, he was appointed chairman of the Constitution Review Committee.[5]

In June 2009, Forau replaced Martin Magga as Minister for Health and Medical Services. The latter was "relieved of his ministerial duties on medical grounds" after being hospitalized in Australia and placed on life support.[6]

Retaining his seat in the August 2010 general election, in which he stood as a member of the People's Federation Party,[7] he nonetheless lost his seat in Cabinet. Rather than join the Opposition, he was elected Leader of the Independent Members of Parliament on 30 August.[8] In early April 2011, however, he relinquished this position to join the ranks of the government.[9][10][11] Shortly thereafter, he was appointed Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services.[12]

On 9 November 2011, he resigned and joined the Opposition, as part of a mass defection which brought down the Philip government two days later.[13][14] Gordon Darcy Lilo replaced Philip as Prime Minister on 16 November, and reappointed Forau to his previous position five days later.[15]

On 9 February 2012, Lilo sacked Peter Shannel Agovaka as Foreign Minister, for having publicly raised the possibility of establishing diplomatic relations with Russia without awaiting Lilo's approval. On 27 February, Lilo appointed Forau in his place.[16]

Forau lives in Tikopia.[17]

  1. ^ Member page on the Parliament website
  2. ^ Members of the Eighth Parliament, by party, website of the National Parliament
  3. ^ Member page on the Parliament website
  4. ^ Joanna Sireheti and Joy Basi, "Prime Minister Sikua Unveil Cabinet", Solomon Times Online, 22 December 2007.
  5. ^ Member page on the Parliament website
  6. ^ "Soalaoi is New Health Minister", Solomon Times, 10 June 2009
  7. ^ 2010 election data Archived 20 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation
  8. ^ "Abana is new Opposition leader" Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Solomon Star, 1 September 2010
  9. ^ "Solomon Islands' PM stronger after opposition walkouts" Archived 17 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, ABC Radio Australia, 7 April 2011
  10. ^ "Rick Hou Joins Government", Solomon Times, 7 April 2011
  11. ^ "Govt builds numbers" Archived 19 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Solomon Star, 7 April 2011
  12. ^ "New Cabinet Ministers Sworn in", Solomon Times, 19 April 2011
  13. ^ "Lilo fired" Archived 2 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Solomon Star, 11 November 2011
  14. ^ "PM Resigns" Archived 2 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Solomon Star, 11 November 2011
  15. ^ "Abana, Maelanga likely candidates for DPM" Archived 23 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Solomon Star, 21 November 2011
  16. ^ "New Foreign Minister appointed in Solomon Islands", Radio New Zealand International, 28 February 2012
  17. ^ Member page on the Parliament website