The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) will undertake in-country consultations in Rarotonga early next week with the engagement program supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) to take place 13-14 May with consultations on the 13 May to be held at Te Are Pua Community Hall in Takuvaine.
The visiting delegation from Suva will be led by Secretary General Henry Puna with engagements planned with key government and beyond government representatives to consult on key regional priorities that comprise the Secretariat’s work program and have emanated from the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM52) hosted by the Cook Islands in November last year.
PIFS is the premier political organisation for the Pacific, providing a fora for member countries to address shared challenges, including as relate to climate change, gender equality, labour mobility, regional security, economic development, trade, and sustainable development.
“We look forward to an update from the Secretariat on progress relating to key regional priorities and tasking by Forum Leaders from last year’s Leaders meeting to ensure we see and can measure tangible impacts and results from those efforts at domestic and community levels within the Cook Islands in years to come,” said MFAI Director of Pacific and Regional Affairs Division Teuru Passfield. “Of particular interest is ensuring the Secretariat forward work streams avail resourcing support for Smaller Islands States like the Cook Islands given the particular vulnerabilities related to isolation and smallness that must be overcome.”
The consultations by the Secretariat will be set within the frame of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and MFAI encourage national stakeholders engage to ensure Cook Islands priorities are incorporated in shaping the Secretariat and regional organisations forward work plans and resource allocation.
“The bulk of new development funding and resources allocated by development partners for the Pacific are being channelled through regional organisations,” said Director Passfield, “so it is important member countries like the Cook Islands ensure ownership and directing of those regional resource allocations through in-country consultations like that scheduled next week, and through the appropriate regional governance mechanisms, to ensure the bulk of the resources reach our people and communities.”
Queries regarding this media release and the in-country consultations can be directed to [email protected]