Page 4 - IB FEB 2018

OUR WORD

Managing Director / Publisher
Samisoni Pareti
Group Editor-in-Chief
Samisoni Pareti
by Samisoni Pareti

Staff Writer Hear our pleas
Priya Chand
Design Consultant
Dick Lee Peter O’Neil, Prime Minister of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
Main Correspondents Papua New Guinea assumes the chair- for example, the MSG would be a ‘free
manship of the sub-regional bloc the and independent spirit,’ taking the lead
Fiji Anish Chand
Melanesian Spearhead Group this in pushing through the agenda, the
Australia Nic Maclellan
month when he hosts the long delayed wishes and aspirations of the people
Cook Islands Helen Greig
summit of MSG leaders in Port Mores- of Melanesia and by extension, the
Kiribati Taberannang Korauaba by. He takes over from his next-door peoples of the Pacific. Somewhat like
French Polynesia Nic Maclellan neighbour, Rick Houenipwela, Prime what the Parties of the Nauru Agree-
New Caledonia Nic Maclellan Minister of Solomon islands, although ment (of which PNG and Solomon
New Zealand Jason Brown bulk of the work of MSG was done by Islands are also members) has success-
Niue Naea Michael Jackson the man Houenipwela replaced during fully done.
Papua New Guinea Sam Vulum a confidence motion vote last Novem- Disappointingly, the MSG has yet to
ber in Solomon Islands parliament,
Patrick Matbob match the kind of financial autonomy
Manasseh Sogavare.
Samoa Taina Kami-Enoka the PNA grouping enjoys. Indeed, the
Mr O’Neil has a lot of work to do.
Solomon Islands Priestly Habru MSG has had to seek donor money
He would need to start by impressing
Tonga Iliesa Tora from countries like Indonesia to fund
on his Melanesian leaders the need to
Vanuatu Bob Makin some of its programmes. Given how
re-commit to the ideals and aspirations he has pushed for the position of In-
of the MSG. They have to show that donesia in past meetings of the MSG,
Islands Business is published monthly by commitment by attending the MSG it is to be expected that Mr O’Neil is
Front Page Limited Leaders Summit. Its not good enough
Editorial & Advertising Offices not going to be an ally when it comes
117 Amy Street, to send a cabinet minister or diplomat to the independent aspirations of the
PO Box 12718, Suva, Fiji Islands. instead. people of West Papua. In this he will
Tel: +679 330 3108 Fax: +679 330 1423 Funding and Indonesia are going to have the vote of his Fijian counterpart,

Emails be the other key challenges for the new Frank Bainimarama.
Editorial: editor@islandsbusiness.com MSG chair. If MSG members are not
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the work of the secretariat, then the re- and Mr Bainimarama opt to remain
gional bloc will have to secure alterna- deaf to the pleas and wishes of the
Printing:
Universal Printing Press, Lautoka. tive funding options. people of Papua, the new chair of the
RUGBY FAIRNESS: PUSH FOR BIG GUNS TO GIVE BETTER DEAL P24 At one time, there was a real hope MSG at least would listen and gauge
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4 Islands Business, February 2018