PM meets Commonwealth SG and Pacific leaders [1]
Friday, November 10, 2023 - 22:45
The Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku met with the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Rt Honourable Patricia Baroness Scotland on Monday 6 November, in Rarotonga. He acknowledged the Commonwealth’s continued and proactive support to Tonga. He also met and held discussions with other Pacific leaders and partners.
The Prime Minister's Office stated that Hon. Hu'akavameilku ackowledged the Commonwealth Secretariat, in terms of networking and in-kind office support provided to Tonga's High Commission in London, and "the Secretariat’s continued electoral support and assistance towards Tonga, to deliver a transparent and inclusive electoral process, such as we anticipate our forthcoming General Election in 2025.”
He suggested that Tongan officials be included in legal and judicial education and training when, and where they are offered. He also called on assistance in Cyber Crime support and Debt Management Assistance.
“The Secretary-General acknowledged the strong leadership the PM has in the Commonwealth family, and for his continued support for the Commonwealth and her initiatives.”
Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
On the same day, the PM held a bilateral meeting with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Managing Director for Asia Pacific, Mr. Jalil Rasheed.
They discussed areas to enhance cooperation in building and ensuring national resilience, providing quality and affordable services to people, sustaining progressive economic growth, climate change and natural disasters, technology and connectivity, and people centred development.
International Organization on Migration
The Prime Minister met with the International Organization on Migration (IOM) Director General, Ms. Amy Pope.
Hon. Hu’akavameiliku thanked Ms. Pope for the IOM’s enhanced and ongoing assistance in a number of key areas, including Tonga’s Migration and Sustainable Development Policy (MSDP) two years ago.
He said the MSDP provided Tonga with a policy planning framework, enabling it to derive maximum development benefits from diaspora investments and remittances for inclusive economic development.
The Government has requested IOM’s support to establish a Migrant Resource Centre, which may address some of the impact and monitor the trends from this socio-economic development issue.
Hon. Hu’akavameiliku said the IOM’s Migrant Protection and Assistance (MPA) is helping Pacific Islands Countries build capacities to protect migrants and prevent human trafficking and smuggling.
Tonga’s MIDAS project (Migration Information and Data Analysis System) is a landmark border management system, and the IOM’s assistance had significantly helped and facilitated the roll-out of the MIDAS installations at key airports and seaports in the Kingdom.
Hon. Hu’akavameiliku said "the importance of the development of comprehensive strategies to address migration issues, especially countering Trafficking in Persons (TIP), could not be over emphasised as Tonga is developing a National Action Plan for TIP, to be launched this month."
IOM’s support in climate change and climate resilience programs in Tonga was greatly appreciated.
Ms Pope recognised the lack of representation of Tongans in international bodies, including the IOM, and encouraged Tonga to apply for positions in the IOM.
12th Polynesian Leaders Group meeting
Hon Hu'akavameiliku participated in the 12th Polynesian Leaders Group meeting, where he met with the leaders of American Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tuvalu and Wallis, and Futuna, to discuss key issues affecting the Polynesian countries.
“We welcome the efforts to develop telecommunication connectivity. Common challenges we all face is the difficulty in attracting and fostering private sector financing in infrastructure development, on top of that list is high cost of maintenance plans for infrastructure,” he said.
“At the same time, we have our concerns on cyber crime and threats, we call for collaborative efforts to enhance cyber security.”
On maritime and air connectivity, Hon Hu’akavameiliku said this will play a central role in facilitating tourism, trade, and the upgrade of our infrastructures that boost economic development.
“But we need to increase awareness and scale-up the actions needed to improve regional maritime and air connectivity,” he said.
In addition, the PM highlighted quality Education is fundamental to the protection of the future of our Pacific people.
“But this is not enough. As I mentioned in our last PLG meeting, I emphasised the importance of having quality, accessible, affordable and inclusive education including skills development at all levels, especially for our university and vocational students in the region to be exempt from paying international tuition fees, that other international students are paying.”
2050 Strategy for Blue Pacific Continent
He said the 2050 Strategy, which promises a new way of making a transformational change for our people, was important.
The meeting also discussed matters in regard to the PLG members' international engagement and advocacy on climate resilience, oceans and nuclear legacy issues, and how the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and the review of the regional architecture will benefit the Polynesian Triangle.
The Members also revisited issues regarding the Governance arrangements of the PLG such at reviewing of its charter to consider other Polynesian member applications and finalize the set-up of a permanent secretariat office in Samoa, the founding member of PLG.
The 12th Meeting of the PLG was chaired by French Polynesia's President, HE Moeata Brotherson, under the theme “To hiro’a, to ‘auhune - Our Identity, Our Prosperity”.
Leaders reaffirmed their support to the theme of the 12th PLG Meeting emphasizing the centrality of Polynesian identity to build Prosperity. The incoming Chair of the PLG is Niue, who is expected to host the 13th PLG Meeting.
Agricultural produce export opportunity from Tonga to Wallis and Futuna
Honourable Hu’akavameiliku met the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Wallis and Futuna, Hon. Mulipo’ese Muli’aka’aka, on Tuesday, 7 November, in Rarotonga.
The meeting was to strengthen areas of cooperation in trade, and for an opportunity to export agricultural produce to Wallis and Futuna, PMO reported.
The Prime Minister was accompanied to the meeting by the Minister for Trade and Economic Development, Hon Dr Viliami Uasike Latu, and Chief Secretary & Secretary to Cabinet, Paula Ma’u.
PNG K5 million assistance for Tonga's Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai recovery
The PM received K5 million assistance from the Government of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, for the HTHH recovery program, handed over by the Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Hon. John Rosso.
Hon. Hu’akavameiliku thanked the Deputy Prime Minister and the people of Papua New Guinea.
He added that the response plan had seen 70% of houses affected have been reconstructed, and the focus is on providing long-term recovery and reconstruction assistance that is inclusive, sustainable and contributes to disaster risk reduction.
“The Plan and achievements have only been made possible by the collaboration with our development partners. The generous assistance from Papua New Guinea will certainly boost our ongoing efforts to recover from the disaster,” Hon Hu’akavameiliku stated.
Hon Hu’akavameiliku and wife Fiona Sovaleni were welcomed in a traditional welcoming ceremony in Aitutaki, upon arrival in the island for the Leader’s Retreat, which was held on 9 November.
Leaders will finalise their decisions for this years’ Forum at the retreat, PMO stated.
The Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Mark Brown will announce the outcome of the 52nd Forum in a Press Conference to be held after the retreat, together with Troika members including Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku, as the incoming chair of the Forum Meeting.
Leaders will be returning to Rarotonga after the retreat for the conclusion of the Forum Meeting with the Dialogue Partners, on Friday 10 November, 2023.