Thomas Chan (politician)

From Wikitia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Thomas Chan (politician)
Add a Photo
Born
Thomas Koh Chan

(1957-10-27) October 27, 1957 (age 68)
Auki, Malaita
CitizenshipChinese
OccupationEntrepreneur and politician

Thomas Koh Chan (born 27 October 1957 in Auki, Malaita),[1] referred to commonly as (Sir) Thomas Chan or (Sir) Tommy Chan,[2] is an ethnic Chinese[2] naturalized entrepreneur and politician on Solomon Islands of Roman Catholic denomination, who is National President of the political party Association of Independent Members (AIM). Chan's family (explicitly: he and Laurie Chan, his son and also a former Minister) has been described in historical literature as "the wealthy Chan's". Thomas Chan, is one of the most influential businessmen of Solomon Islands. Other prominent businessmen are Moon Pin Kwan and the Quan brothers who own retailing and wholesale shops in Honiara.

Moon Pin Kwan (also ethnically Chinese) and Thomas Chan were both elected as Members of Parliament (MPs) on 6 August 1997.[3] Moon Pin Kwam became MP for Honiara and Chan became MP for West Guadalcanal (as did his son during the consecutive election, cf. Functions - |Political), which was surprising to many observers because that part of Solomon Islands had no ethnic Chinese population. Further more, this was the first time that Chinese officially entered the countries' politics.

In the context of the Solomon Islands general election (2006), the Chan's[4] have been called the main political players, together with Alex Wang of Iron Bottom Sound Hotel, another hotel in Honiara.[2] In this context, the Chan's have supported the previous government of Allan Kemakeza (who was PM from 17 December 2001[5] – 18 April 2006), wherein Deputy Prime Minister was Snyder Rini who, also during that period, additionally switched between 3 other Minister's positions;[6] and subsequently the government of the newly elected Snyder Rini (who was PM from 18 April 2006 – 4 May 2006).[2] Already in 2001, when these were still but regular Ministers, they had been described as corrupt politicians, responsible for corrupt administration: Allan Kemakeza in his position as Minister for National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace (which he manned from June 2000 – 2001)[5] and Snyder Rini as Minister for Finance and Treasury (which he positioned from December 2002 – June 2003)[6]. The main reasons of the Chan's support to these governments have been the tax breaks they received during many years, and wanting to obtain Honiara's third casino license. The construction of suitable buildings for a casino at their hotel had already started. Nevertheless, they have not been allowed a license.[2]

Snyder Rini was elected Prime Minister during the Solomon Islands general election (2006) due to vote-buying support from Chinese business leaders, which was coordinated by Thomas Chan.[7] When the candidature of Snyder Rini (then part of the Association of Independent Members (AIM) and called leading the party in the National Parliament) for Prime Minister was announced on 16 April, widespread street protests which targeted the Chinatown area were triggered in Honiara. Unfair favoring of Chinese businessmen by Snyder Rini and corruption was asserted by the protesters. After the announcement of the election of Snyder Rini as the new prime minister on 18 April by the Governor-General (Nathaniel Rahumaea Waena, 7 July 2004–2009[8]) just after 12PM, tensions rose during 3 hours.[2] Numbers rose in the hundreds at Vavaya Ridge outside the Parliament[9] where, just after 3PM that day, crowds reportedly shouted: "Chinese money! Chinese money!". Following stone throwing, tear gas was deployed as a reply by 3.22PM,[10] after which several Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) vehicles were set alight. When rioting and looting crowds approached Chinatown, via Mendana Avenue, they wanted to attack Thomas Chan's Honiara Hotel:[2]

The mob wanted to target Chan's Honiara Hotel, because of the family's involvement in politics, but was held off by the increased, mainly Malaitan security and the Christian authority of a force of Taesiu–The Anglican Melanesian Brothers, who exercised a strong mana [i.e. power in both a religious and political sense][11].

— Clive Moore[2]

Honiara Hotel and his son's video shop were not harmed.[2]

By September 1998, the following businesses were owned by Thomas Chan:

  • Honiara Hotel[2], near Chinatown, owned by Thomas Chan since at least 1993 (then entailing 66 rooms).[12]
  • Chan Wing (a major supermarket in Honiara), possibly identical to Wings Supermarket (also owned by Thomas Chan).[13]
  • Tambea Tourist Resort (possibly identical to Tambea Village Hotel Resort: formerly referred to as Tambae Resort: the first tourist resort on Solomon Islands, 40–45 km West from Honiara, opened on August 1969 by Dalice and Olle Torling and 60 local village shareholders, who due to the government's insistence on local participation owned 8% of its shares; ran by Mr and Mrs Torling; contained 24 bungalows in 1993[14][15][16])
  • Wings Shipping (a Honiara based shipping company, agency or both[17] which reportedly also ships between Honiara and Western Province[18])

References

  1. ↑ Koh Chan, Thomas (22 April 2008). "Hon. Thomas Koh Chan" (PDF). National Parliament of Solomon Islands. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Moore, Clive (2008). "No more walkabout long Chinatown: Asian involvement in the economic and political process". In Dinnen, Sinclair; Firth, Stewart (eds.). Politics and State Building in Solomon Islands (PDF). Canberra: ANU E Press, Asia Pacific Press. pp. 64–95. ISBN 978-1-921-31366-0.
  3. ↑ "SOLOMON ISLANDS: parliamentary elections National Parliament, 1997". Inter-Parliamentary Union. 11 January 2007. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  4. ↑ Explicitly: Thomas Chan and his son Laurie Chan.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Hon. Sir Allan Kemakeza". National Parliament of Solomon Islands. 2007. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Hon. Snyder Rini". National Parliament of Solomon Islands. 2007. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  7. ↑ Braithwaite, John; Dinnen, Sinclair; Allen, Matthew; Braithwaite, Valerie; Charlesworth, Hilary, eds. (2010). "Peace processes". Politics and State Building in Solomon Islands. Canberra: ANU E Press, The Australian National University. ISBN 978-1-921-66679-7.
  8. ↑ Moore, Clive (8 July 2013). "Biographical entry: Waena, Nathaniel Rahumaea (1945 - )". Solomon Islands Historical Encyclopaedia 1893-1978. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  9. ↑ Tara Kabutaulaka, Tarcisius (20 April 2013). "SEEKING ANSWERS IN THE ASHES OF HONIARA". Pacific Islands Report, Pacific Islands Development Program/East-West Center, With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of Hawai'i. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  10. ↑ This time was reported by the police. Information from Paul Roughan on 18 April 2006.
  11. ↑ Joseph, Keith; Brown Beu, Charles (November 2008). "CHURCH AND STATE IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS" (PDF). Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific. State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Discussion Papers. The Australian National University. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  12. ↑ Stanley, David (1993). South Pacific Handbook (Fifth ed.). Chico, California: Moon Publications, Inc. (1st edition–July 1979). p. 704. ISBN 0-918373-99-9. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  13. ↑ Atkin, George (26 September 2014). "Six parties process application". Solomon Star News. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  14. ↑ Moore, Clive (8 July 2013). "Concept: Tourism". Solomon Islands Historical Encyclopaedia 1893–1978. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  15. ↑ Douglas, Ngaire (2004). "Towards a history of tourism in Solomon Islands: The first instalment" (PDF). The Journal of Pacific Studies. The University of the South Pacific. 26 (1, 2): 29–50. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  16. ↑ A. Bennett, Judith (2000). "From Guadalcanal to Malaita: Solmac and Kayuken". Pacific Forest: A History of Resource Control and Contest in Solomon Islands, c. 1800-1997. Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers (First published by Cambrdige: The White Horse Press, in 2000). p. 230. ISBN 90-04-11960-4.
  17. ↑ "Wings Shipping , Honiara , Solomon Islands". Pacific Business Pages. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  18. ↑ Kubíčková, Jana (22 October 2015). "When Ocean is Your Highway: Travelling in the Solomon Islands". Journeys to Abyssal Plains. Retrieved 13 November 2015.

External links

Add External links

This article "Thomas Chan (politician)" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles taken from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be accessed on Wikipedia's Draft Namespace.

Retrieved from "https://wikitia.com/index.php?title=Thomas_Chan_(politician)&oldid=232333"