The Solomon Times reports the Pacific nation is to elect its next Governor-General today. The next representative of the Queen in the Solomons will be the sixth elected since the country gained independence in 1978.

There are nine candidates for the job, including Sir Nathaniel Waena (the current Governor-General) and Sir Peter Kenilorea (speaker of the House). Each candidate is nominated by members of Parliament. Since the Solomons has no entrenched party system like more mature democracies, the election will be more competitive.

Update: Frank Kabui has been elected as the new Governor-General of the Solomon Islands. There were four rounds of voting. In the final round Mr Kabui polled 30 votes, Edmund Andresen eight votes and the outgoing Governor General, Sir Nathaniel Waena seven votes.