Page 9 - IB AUG 2017

Main Story
‘ ... Will PIF become another SPC in terms of the membership of

metropolitan governments? ... Does this make any political sense?

This is likely to lead to duplication of responsibilities ... ‘

Having the French
in the Forum

THE PLUS
- Better, bigger access to means essen-
tial for sustainable development
- Good lessons/models on economic
growth in both territories
- Much good to learn from governance
lessons in France and EU
- newer geo-political considerations
on the security front
THE MINUS
- detrimental impact of nickel mining
in New Caledonia
- slow integration in regional trade
due to heavy French protectionist
policies
- competencies to put in place fully-
fledged trade, economic, political
agreements
Thr French have bolstered their presence in Noumea with the FS D’Entrecasteaux as New Caledoania’s lead naval - Logistical legal, financial and admin-
vessel. Photo: French Navy
istrative difficulties (including having
about what this may mean for the lead noted that SPF (that be- to provide language facilities)
regional political agency, the Pacific came PIF in 2000) had - Managed improperly, new geo-
Island Forum whose headquarters is started in1971 by splitting politics could expose region to more Having the French in the Forum – the
based in Suva, Fiji. PIF is currently led by off from the SPC Council disputations and conflicting situa-
Papua New Guinea jurist and diplomat, by five independent PICs tions
Dame Meg Taylor. and New Zealand and - From analysis of Ambassador K
By letting non-independent states Australia joined later by Tavola
into PIF, Ambassador Tavola wondered invitation. Kaliopate Tavola
how would this play in relations to the “The crack in the SPC Photo: File “That regional market integration has
other regional agency that already has council had started earlier in 1965 by not been successful – see e.g. that status
territories in its membership, the Pacific what is generally known as the Lae of SPARTECA, PARTA, PICTA, PACER
Community (SPC). Rebellion. and PACER Plus.
“Will PIF become another SPC in terms “Does this decision only confirm the “That the pooling of resources for re-
of the membership of metropolitan gov- continuous search for the right forms of gional service has floundered in a num-
ernments? Will having two big regional regionalism that was started way back ber of high-profile regional projects, e.g.
bodies with overlapping membership be in 1971 when the South Pacific Forum Air Pacific, the Forum Shipping Line etc;
affordable for the FICs (Forum Island (SPF) started and whose development “That deepened regional integration
Countries)? Does this make any political framework later morphed into the Pacific has not taken root at all. Will the incor-
regional sense? This is likely to lead to Plan in 2005? poration of France in Pacific Regional-
duplication of responsibilities which is “Does the continuous search for the ism mark the death of decolonization
already happening. ideal regionalism for the FICs/PSIDS efforts?
“Will this then lead to another Re- constitute an acknowledgement that “Or will it signify an historic change
gional Institutional Framework (RIF) all forms of regionalism tried to date in the approach to decolonisation? (Is-
study similar to that carried out in 2005? have not fully realised their respective lands Business’ writer Nic) Maclellan
Will the new RIF’s recommendations be potential for their shortcomings, i.e: puts it differently in whether French
treated differently from those of 2005 that regional cooperation has been un- colonialism has become entrenched in
when some recommendations were dermined by high costs, lack of benefits the Pacific?”
either re-cast or re-directed for political to members due to regionalism being If the latter, then how can we balance
reasons? voluntary and due as well to members’ the French interests against those of the
“Should PIF develop to be similar great diversity of interests, in resources, Kanaks and the Maohi people (and the
to SPC, than Pacific Regionalism has economic strengths and degree of inte- West Papuans)?”
gone around in a full circle. It is to be gration into the global economy; r spareti@islandsbusiness.com

Islands Business, August 2017 9