Pacific leaders have ‘extremely crowded’ agenda at Tonga summit as locals welcome much-needed economic growth

Handicraft stall owners in Tonga’s capital Nuku’alofa hope that economic activity from delegates attending the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Summit (PIFLM53) this week will boost their incomes as ordinary Tongans continue their daily routines to recover from the impact of the pandemic. 2022 Earthquake and Tsunami.

Every year, more than 1,000 people travel to Saudi Arabia for this annual event, where 18 Pacific leaders gather to make important decisions in the name of the Pacific family.

There were many issues to discuss, including the climate crisis, the ongoing crisis in New Caledonia, the U.S. territories of American Samoa and Guam, Bid to become an associate memberbrain drain of seasonal workers, freer travel in the Pacific, making climate finance more accessible to Pacific Island countries to respond to disasters, human rights in West Papua, Indonesia, deep sea mining, and an update on the Pacific Islands Forum regional architecture.

But for locals, Tonga’s hosting of the summit means a much-needed injection of funds for a country still recovering from the Hunga-Tonga Hungaha’apai volcano eruption and tsunami.

Linda Vahai Alatini, 49, was taught by her great-grandmother how to make ta’ovala, elaborate Tongan mats worn in the wilderness. Now she teaches her own children to make the mats, which she sells at the Tara Mahu market in Nuku’alofa.

Alatini was interviewed by New Zealand Pacific Radio alongside Amelia Taufa, 65, who said they were looking forward to sharing her art with PIFM53 guests.

But Aratini said she also wanted to remind Prime Minister Huakawameliku Shosi-Sovalenei, the incoming chairperson of the Pacific Islands Forum, to make decisions in the interest of the people.

“We hope the government can help us in the market,” she said, adding that “we make our own handicrafts here, so (the government needs to) pick us to sell” locally made products when Tonga participates in overseas expositions to promote the country.

Another vendor, Betsy Lori, is a single mother of eight who works six days a week at the market to support her children’s higher education.

She sells kiekie, a traditional garment worn by Tongan women made from plant fibers from pandanus, hibiscus and coconut.

She said the busiest and most profitable period for her small business is the Christmas holiday in December, when Tongans overseas send money back home to their families, and while she does not know the specifics of PIFL53, she hopes the influx of customers will boost profits.

“It’s too difficult to stay in Tonga. So, we are happy to see (delegates) coming here … because they will spend money, you know, and it will help our economy.”

Asked what changes Pacific leaders could make to support Tongans, Lowry said visa-free travel would go a long way to ease the burden.

She said she spent a lot of money and time applying for visas to Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

Several Pacific leaders have already arrived in Tonga, with others due to arrive tonight. Other high-level attendees include UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Patricia Scottland, head of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

New Zealand will send three representatives to the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Week meeting.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti will attend the first half of the week, while Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will attend the second half.

Peters said New Zealand’s senior presence at Leaders’ Week events reflected the importance the Government placed on deepening its relationship with the region.

‘Extremely crowded’ summit

Pacific politicians say regional leaders will make big moves at the forum.

Anna Powles, associate professor of security studies at Massey University, told RNZ Pacific this year would be the first time dialogue partners such as the United States and China would meet face-to-face with Pacific Islands Forum leaders since the pandemic began.

“It’s going to be an extremely crowded, busy conference,” she said.

But she said the first issue was to resolve the ongoing unrest in New Caledonia.

“It will certainly be an issue for discussion in terms of New Caledonia, how to plan for the future and what role the forum will play in the future,” she said.

“It is also an opportunity for a New Caledonian government delegation to discuss relevant issues with the Forum member countries without the participation of France.”

Powles said other important topics at the conference include wastewater discharge from Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant and climate change, where Guterres is expected to attend, as well as a review of the regional architecture and a “peace zone” proposal put forward by Fijian Prime Minister Sitiweni Rabuka.

She said the Australia-Tuvalu Falepillie Union Treaty was expected to be a focus of discussion, “but it’s probably not going to be too prominent at this stage because we’re getting wider consultation and support for it”.

Tess Newton-Cain, director of the Pacific at the Griffith Asia Institute, said it would be interesting to see what leaders decide on Guam and American Samoa joining the EU.

She said the regional architecture of the Pacific Islands Forum was under review, including its membership structure.

“It would be very bad diplomatically if they allowed Guam and American Samoa to be associate members and then a few years later say, ‘Oh, we’ve changed the rules now, you’re no longer eligible,'” Tess Newton-Cain told RNZ Pacific.

The meeting officially began on Monday.