Sir Michael Somare, the new chairman of the Pacific Forum, said last night it would be a mistake and an opportunity lost if Pacific Island leaders do not approve the draft Pacific Plan put before them this week in Port Moresby.

Delivering a Prosperous Pacific, the theme for the 2005 Pacific Forum Meeting, remained the focus of the speeches from the Forum chair at the opening ceremony of the Pacific Forum 2005 on the evening of October. 25.

Export trade

Both the outgoing chairman of the Forum ,Hon. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi of Samoa, and the incoming chairman, the Rt Hon Grand Chief, Sir Michael Somare the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, stressed the importance of island nations attaining economic growth by boosting their export trade. Both leaders expressed their sincere belief that the Pacific Plan would enable Pacific countries to attain development and prosperity.

"We have decided that the Pacific Plan is an appropriate vehicle for this purpose," Hon. Somare said, adding that he was aware that some people and organizations had expressed concerns about the Pacific Plan and had asked Pacific Island leaders not to adopt the Plan at this meeting. "Let me state that it would be a mistake ...– an opportunity lost ...– if we do not approve the draft Pacific Plan."

Kaliboboo Roadmap

Hon. Somare said that the theme for this year...’s meeting, Delivering a Prosperous Pacific, served as a reminder that the ultimate objective of these regional cooperative efforts is to better the lives and well-being of Pacific people. He said that the challenge is to ensure that the document (Pacific Plan) does not collect dust on the shelves of our capitals, "and practical actions are taken to implement the proposals contained in the Plan. I intend to table for the Leaders consideration a document outlining a commitment to implement the Pacific Plan that will be called the Kaliboboo Roadmap."

Kaliboboo is the name of a town in the village of Madang to the north east of Port Moresby where the leaders will go for their retreat on October 26.

The 2005 Pacific Forum Meeting is another event that Papua New Guinea hosted this year as part of its 30the anniversary of its independence. The 30th anniversary is a milestone for the Rt Hon. Somare who was the first Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea when it gained its independence in 1975, and is now the current Prime Minister. A highlight of the Hon. Somare leadership was when he became the leader of the Pacific Forum last night.