Solomon Islands first governor general Sir Baddeley Devesi has passed away, aged 70.
He served as governor general for ten years from independence in 1978 and then became an MP, serving also in Cabinet until the overthrow of the Ulufa'alu government in 2000.
The Solomons Star reports that as the country approached independence, he was critical of the lack of preparations made by Britain for the handover.
He believed this ultimately led to the political crises the Solomons suffered following independence.