Steve Abana
{{Short description|Solomon Islands politician (born 1969)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = The Right Honourable
| name = Steve William Abana
| honorific-suffix = MP
| image =
| office = Leader of the Opposition
| monarch = Elizabeth II
| primeminister = Danny Philip
| term_start = 25 August 2010
| term_end = 23 March 2011
| predecessor =
| successor = Derek Sikua
| office2 = Minister for National Planning and Aid Coordination
| term_start2 = 21 December 2007
| term_end2 = 25 August 2010
| primeminister2 = Derek Sikua
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 = Snyder Rini
| office3 = Minister for National Planning and Aid Coordination
| deputy3 =
| term_start3 = 16 October 2006
| term_end3 = 10 November 2007
| predecessor3 =
| successor3 =
| primeminister3 = Manasseh Sogavare
| office4 =
| leader4 =
| term_start4 =
| term_end4 =
| predecessor4 =
| successor4 =
| constituency_MP5 = Fataleka
| term_start5 = 5 April 2006
| term_end5 =
| predecessor5 = Casper Luiramo
| successor5 =
| majority5 =
| constituency_MP6 =
| parliament6 =
| term_start6 =
| term_end6 =
| predecessor6 =
| successor6 =
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1969}}
| birth_place = Fourau, Malaita
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic Party
| alma_mater = Fiji National University (FNU)
| website =
}}
Steve William Abana (born 1969 in Fourau, Malaita[http://www.parliament.gov.sb/index.php?q=node/136 Biography] on the website of the Parliament of Solomon Islands) is a Solomon Islands politician. He is a former Member of Parliament for Fataleka and was the Leader of Her Majesty's[http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/9937-tausinga-im-with-opposition "Tausinga: I'm with opposition"], Solomon Star, 24 January 2011 Opposition from August 2010 to March 2011.
Abana studied at the Fiji College of Agriculture (FCA), where he obtained a Diploma in Tropical Agriculture. Before his political career, he was a teacher at the Honiara High School. He then entered business, exporting cocoa during the height of the ethnic tension. After being successful, he started Anolpha Enterprises and became the managing director.
His career in national politics began when he was elected MP for Fataleka, a constituency in his native Malaita Province, in the April 2006 general election. In October, he benefited from a reshuffle in Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare's Cabinet, and was appointed Minister for National Planning and Aid Coordination. In November 2007, Sogavare dismissed him from office, accusing him of seeking support to oust him from the premiership. The following month, the Sogavare government was toppled by a motion of no confidence, and Abana supported new Prime Minister Derek Sikua, who re-appointed him as Minister for National Planning and Aid Coordination.[http://www.solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=904 "Lilo, Abana Sacked for Working Against PM"], Solomon Times, 12 November 2007
As leader of the Democratic Party, Abana was a key member of Sikua's Coalition for National Unity and Rural Advancement government. Abana led the Democratic Party into the August 2010 general election, campaigning on a promise of "more recognition to tribal landowners by registering all tribal lands in the name of tribes"; "the implementation of a National Adaptation Plan to address Climate Change for the most vulnerable communities; a focus to improve the standard of living in villages consistent with the Millennium Development Goals"; a pledge "to ensure that 80 percent of energy in the country be produced from renewable resources"; and electoral reform to introduce preferential voting.[http://www.islandsun.com.sb/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=731:democratic-party-launches-roadmap&catid=36:latest-news&Itemid=79 "Democratic Party launches roadmap"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310080602/http://www.islandsun.com.sb/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=731:democratic-party-launches-roadmap&catid=36:latest-news&Itemid=79 |date=10 March 2012 }}, Island Sun, 8 June 2010 The election was a comparative success for the Democrats: They obtained thirteen seats (out of fifty), whereas no other party obtained more than three, and Abana was re-elected MP for Fataleka.[http://www.sibconline.com.sb/elections/results_party.asp?partyID=01 2010 election data] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220080456/http://www.sibconline.com.sb/elections/results_party.asp?partyID=01 |date=20 December 2010 }}, Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation
Abana then stood for the premiership, against Danny Philip of the breakaway Reformed Democratic Party. Abana received the support of twenty-three MPs, but Philip was elected Prime Minister with the support of twenty-six.[http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/7950568/solomon-pm-to-be-announced-soon "Solomon Islands names new PM"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004065738/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/7950568/solomon-pm-to-be-announced-soon |date=4 October 2012 }}, Nine News, 25 August 2010 Abana became the formal Leader of the Opposition, and appointed the Shadow Cabinet.[http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/7762-abana-is-new-opposition-leader "Abana is new Opposition leader"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716103457/http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/7762-abana-is-new-opposition-leader |date=16 July 2011 }}, Solomon Star, 1 September 2010[http://www.parliament.gov.sb/files/business&procedure/9th%20Parliament/Minutes/Tuesday%2028%20September%202010.pdf Minutes of the first session of the Ninth Parliament], National Parliament of Solomon Islands
He stepped down as Leader of the Opposition on 23 March 2011, stating briefly that the Opposition needed to "revive itself".[http://www.solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=5990 "Abana Steps Down as Opposition Leader"], Solomon Times, 23 March 2011 Two weeks later, he joined the ranks of the government, bringing with him several other Opposition MPs.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120317204119/http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201104/3185301.htm "Solomon Islands' PM stronger after opposition walkouts"]}}, ABC Radio Australia, 7 April 2011[http://www.solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=6027 "Rick Hou Joins Government"], Solomon Times, 7 April 2011[http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/10549-govt-builds-numbers "Govt builds numbers"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319224430/http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/10549-govt-builds-numbers |date=19 March 2012 }}, Solomon Star, 7 April 2011