The Forum
Uniting to maximise regional benefits
As you are reading this column, leaders of the South Pacific Forum will have begun their annual summit in Majuro, the capital of the republic of the Marshall Islands.
The 27th South Pacific Forum is being held there from September 3 to 5 against a background of a host of regional issues - issues which could work for or against us.
Some of these are issues which could help our resolve to stand together and be counted as a region, united in the cause of pursuing social and economic develop ment for the well-being of the Island
region’s six million people.
I have no doubt whatsoever that the presidents and prime ministers for the 16 Member States of the South Pacific Forum are mindful of this. It is perhaps with this in mind that the host, President Amata Kabua, in consultation with his colleagues, has decided on the theme for this year’s summit.
“Pacific Solidarity for the Common Good?” is the theme that underscores the view that the more the solidarity in the region is strengthened and expanded, the more its societies will progress in pros
perity.
At the same time, Kabua said that cer tain aspects of regional solidarity may not be perceived by some countries as neces
sarily productive, especially where
national interests might be compromised.
By posing the theme as a question, it allows for a wide and diverse exchange of views. There will also be four sub themes, with four of the Member States having written a paper on each of them; • Inter-dependence and Building Strategic Alliances among South Pacific Forum Countries and Between South Pacific Forum and Non-Forum Countries; • Overcoming obstacles to Greater Regional Interdependence and Co-opera tion; • Maximising Returns on Natural Resources Through Pacific Solidarity; and • Maximising Human Resources Towards Economic Growth.
The paper of the first sub-theme will attempt to identify strategies for enhanc
ing alliances with countries outside the region. The paper on the second sub theme will attempt to identify obstacles to greater regional or sub-regional co-opera tion.
The paper on the third sub-theme will try to identify strategies to ensure that nat ural resources common to all in the region are managed in such a way as to max imise the benefits to the region as a whole. The fourth paper is expected to
identify key areas for training personnel
in support of government economic poli cies in the Islands.
Kabua of the Marshall Islands said that the main theme “Pacific Solidarity for the Common Good?” recognises the interna tional, regional and sub-regional connota tions of the issues it addresses, including the vulnerability of the region to unfair exploitation of its vital resources.
Not least, he said, it aims to align itself with and build on discussion at previous meetings of the South Pacific Forum.
As well, the theme for this year’s Forum will enable leaders to review progress on their decisions of last year, in particular, the plan of action to secure development beyond 2000.
The plan of action set out a number of
economic policy directions, including
reform measures at national level and trade, investment and other aspects of regional economic relations.
A number of actions have been taken on these issues since the Leaders’ Summit in Madang, Papua New Guinea, last year, including the South Pacific Forum Finance Ministers’ meeting which was held in Port Moresby last December.
At the meeting in Majuro this month leaders will be considering ways to add
further political impetus to this on-going
process.
The Majuro South Pacific Forum is the third in a row to have a theme as a feature of discussion. The trend began in 1994 when the South Pacific Forum Leaders adopted changes in procedures to enable them to focus their annual discussions on some particular areas of concern.
Discussions at the Majuro Forum are expected to cover other issues as well.
The South Pacific Forum is now a well-established institution in the region.
respected and accepted regionally and
beyond.
As that recognition grows beyond the 29 million square kilometres of its juris diction, more will be required of it as the Pacific aligns itself with other jurisdic tions dictated by the global environment and the ever-continuing changes.
Such an environment, no doubt, pre sents boundless opportunities for those brave enough to take risks in making decisions in the tough times ahead.
For instance, the inception of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has changed many things, including the rule of play in so far as business, in particular international trading, is concerned.
It means that Island countries, which
once enjoyed duty-free access through
preferential arrangements, will no longer be able to do so. Instead, they will be required to compete in the international market in the same way as those who have been doing business in that environ ment for ages.
Perhaps the obvious disadvantage is that the privilege of having a fixed price for our commodities will no longer be there.
We will therefore have to work very
hard to produce world-standard-quality
goods and be able to meet the demands dictated by the world environment. So, there is a lot of work ahead of us as a region.
Of course, nothing is impossible for those who are determined to work harder and be rewarded for their effort. The Pacific people have survived on their sheer hard work for centuries and there is no doubt that, given the opportunity and the right political impetus, they will do it again. So the outcome of the leaders’ dis cussion will be eagerly awaited. For it is here that perhaps the chart for the Pacific voyage into the 21st century and beyond will be plotted.
Let’s do it the Pacific way - recognis ing but accommodating our differences, but at the same time moving together to achieve for the region what we cannot do
single-handedly.
For, united we stand, divided we fall.
Let us do what our children cannot do for themselves as yet. ■