Minister of Commerce, Trade, and Employment Francis Billy Hilly of Solomon Islands

Hilly has been Minister of Commerce, Industry and Employment since December 2007.

Hilly was elected to the First Parliament in 1976 and was re-elected in 1980 to the Second Parliament, which sat until 1984.

Minister of Commerce, Industries and Employment Francis Billy Hilly has assured Malaita province and its people of the government's determination to build an international sea port at Bina Habour in the Province.

Minister Hilly said the government has seen the importance of the project and subsequent spin-offs that will benefit Bina residents, Malaita Province and the rest of Solomon Islands.

But MP Francis Billy Hilly says members of the Government are already deserting their Prime Minister.

Mr Billy Hilly is speaking from Honiara to our reporter, Josie Taylor.

the wharves of the capital Honiara by the ship's crews.

Minister Hilly said other benefits will include social services such as the presence of police, health and medical care, water and electricity supply and other basic necessities.

Billy Hilly said he had heard that some food relief was sold on the wharves of the capital Honiara by the ship's crews.

Hilly was first elected to Parliament in 1976 and was re-elected in 1980, in May 1993, August 1997, December 2001, and April 2006.

Group spokesman and former Prime Minister Francis Billy Hilly said they had lodged a notice of no confidence yesterday.

Mr Hilly said if the motion was passed it would annul the election of the Prime Minister.

Mr Hilly said if the outcome of the next elections turn out the same then it would show how insensitive the members are to public concern.

He replaced Solomon Mamaloni as prime minister after the June 1993 general election, but his fractious coalition was soon weakened by the resignation of key ministers and in October 1994, having lost his parliamentary majority, Hilly was dismissed by Governor General Moses Pitakaka and Mamaloni returned as premier.

Educated at the University of the South Pacific, Hilly is from the Western Province, where his political career began.

Billy Hilly said the people of Simbo were too scared to return to the shore and many now favoured resettlement elsewhere because of the island's active volcano.

Billy Hilly said he would take the case to the central government which would have to come up with alternative land for them if the plan went ahead.

Billy Hilly said that in the initial stages of the relief effort, there were too many assessments, report writing and meetings when relief supplies should have gone out with assessment teams.

sacking]," Mr Hilly said this week.

Mr Billy Hilly had signed a memorandum of understanding with China but has refused to renounce the position.

Sacked Solomon Islands Minister, Francis Billy Hilly has blamed his dismissal on a Memorandum of Understanding signed between his party and China's Communist Party in 2005.

But Mr Billy Hilly says the MOU with China was a party to party agreement, not government to government.

Francis Billy Hilly was elected Prime Minister following the national elections in June 1993, and headed the government until November 1994 when a shift in parliamentary loyalties brought Solomon Mamaloni back to power.

In 1993 as a result of the elections Francis Billy Hilly is elected prime minister.