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SUVA, June 17, 2024 (Pacific Islands Times) – Former Nauru President Baron Waqa has emerged as the new Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, calling on island nations to unite to achieve regional goals.
“Pacific Islands Forum membership has never been stronger than it is today. But we cannot be complacent. We must continue to work every day to build and strengthen our connections to ensure our region’s priorities and aspirations are achieved,” Waqa said in a speech in Suva last Thursday.
“As a region, we will come together as an example of solidarity, support and partnership,” the 65-year-old former Nauru leader said.
Waqa succeeds Henry Puna of the Cook Islands, whose three-year term ends this month.
Waqa said that under his leadership, security in the region would be a top priority.
“My vision for the region is one of peace, harmony and unity, where we are truly united as one as the Blue Pacific. A region that promotes stability and security and has a culture of love and respect,” he said.
Waqa’s appointment as Secretary-General is in line with the consensus reached by Forum members last year, who agreed to select the next Secretary-General from the Micronesia Cluster, which consists of the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, the Marshall Islands, Nauru and Kiribati.
The Micronesian Presidential Summit approved Nauru as the next Secretary-General of the Forum during its intersessional session on February 13, 2023.
“I am honored to take on this responsibility and serve the Blue Pacific continent and its people,” said Waqa, who began his tenure on June 3.
Waqa served as President of Nauru from 2013 to 2019 and as Chair of the Forum from 2018 to 2019.
The forum is the region’s top political and economic organization with 18 Pacific Rim member countries and was established in 1971.
The regional bloc nearly disintegrated in 2020 when Fiji skipped Marshall Islands Ambassador Gerald Zackios’ candidacy for secretary-general and the Micronesian group resigned en masse. Despite an earlier agreement to rotate leadership among member states, the forum gave the seat to Puna, leading to what became known as the “Micronesia exit.”
The forum was reconstituted last year with the Suva Agreement that ended the conflict. In addition to choosing Nauru for the leadership seat, the agreement also called for the establishment of a sub-regional office in Kiribati and a Pacific Commissioner’s Office in Palau.
“I look forward to travelling to the region to hear directly from your governments and peoples about their aspirations for Pacific regionalism, both in the short and long term,” Waqa said.
He vowed to continue regional initiatives launched during Puna’s tenure, such as the Blue Pacific Continental Strategy 2050, the 2050 Implementation Plan and the Revitalizing Pacific Leaders’ Declaration on Gender Equality.
“I am committed to continuing this momentum and accelerating implementation of our leaders’ priorities to achieve our shared vision,” Waqa said.
“Henry leaves behind a tremendous legacy, and I am committed to continuing that momentum, accelerating implementation of our leaders’ priorities, and pursuing our shared vision.”
Waqa worked as a teacher and education official before being elected to Nauru’s parliament in 2003.
He has also held leadership positions in various regional organizations such as the Alliance of Small Island States, Pacific Small Island Developing States and the Commonwealth Secretariat Observer Mission to Papua New Guinea…PACNEWS
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