Kenilorea, Peter (Kauona Keninarais'Ona) (1943– )

Solomon Islands right-of-centre politician, chief minister 1976–78 and prime minister 1978–82 and 1984–86. He abolished the five provincial ministries that had been established by the preceding administration of Solomon Mamaloni. Facing allegations that he had secretly accepted $47,000 of French aid to repair cyclone damage to his home village, and a looming no-confidence vote, he resigned the premiership in December 1986. However, Kenilorea remained as natural resources minister and, from February 1988, as joint foreign minister and deputy premier, under Prime Minister Ezekiel Alebua, until the right-of-centre Solomon Islands United Party (SIUPA) coalition was defeated in the 1989 general election. Kenilorea served as foreign minister in the ‘national unity’ government of Solomon Mamaloni 1990–93.

Kenilorea was born in Takataka, on Malaita Island. After training in New Zealand, he worked as a teacher before entering the Solomon Islands' civil service in 1971. He then moved into politics, eventually leading the SIUPA. He became chief minister in June 1976 and prime minister after independence in July 1978. His opposition to decentralization led to his departure in 1981, but he returned in 1984, leading a coalition government.