PM joins call for solidarity

PRIME Minister James Marape has joined Pacific leaders to call for a stronger Pacific solidarity, renewed efforts to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic response and tougher action on climate change.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said Marape joined 12 other leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), including its secretariat, as it convened in a virtual retreat to mark its efforts over the last 50 years since its establishment in 1971 in Wellington, New Zealand.
Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Nauru, Samoa, the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Vanuatu, Niue, Tuvalu, New Caledonia, New Zealand and Australia sat in the usual “Pacific Way” roundtable talk that underpinned Pacific brotherhood, though with the exception of the majority of Micronesian states.
Micronesian states have been threatening to break away from PIF, an issue that featured prominently in the meeting.
The issue of contention had been Micronesia’s view that over the last 50 years of PIF’s existence, no Micronesian member had been appointed to the PIF secretariat as secretary-general.
All Pacific leaders, including Marape, reiterated the forum’s stand on a “united Pacific” and urged Micronesia to remain while PIF review the mechanisms that could allow for more inclusive appointments to the Secretariat.
The Covid-19, as usual among international discussions these days, made the first agenda item.
Many small Pacific island countries reported Covid-free populations and the scaling-up on their vaccination coverage.
PNG and Fiji were the countries who have reported the highest Covid-19 infections – besides Australia and New Zealand.
The retreat ended with the declaration to preserve coastal areas experiencing the impact of climate change such as sea level rise.