USP Law students complete Internships at the MSG Secretariat

20 May 2019

Six law students at the University of the South Pacific completed their internship at the Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat on Friday 17 May 2019. Five of the students, were part of the Law Clinic course at the University of the South Pacific’s Emalus Campus while one was a Professional Diploma in Legal Practice (PDLP) student at USP’s Laucala campus.

Each of the interns were attached with the programs of the MSG Secretariat including the Trade and Economic program, Politics and Security, Resource Management, Environment and Climate Change, Sports, Culture and Social Affairs and the Governance and Legal Affairs program.
MSG Secretariat’s Director General Ambassador Amena Yauvoli, said that the MSG Secretariat welcomed the opportunity to host the USP interns. “I am optimistic that such internships provide young and bright students from our region, the unique opportunity to experience and appreciate the work of the Secretariat especially in advancing sub-regionalism.”  

“This is a unique opportunity for these law students who will in the future be shaping legal policies and laws not only for their countries but also for the sub-region and that is why we are happy to provide them this opportunity at the MSG Secretariat,” Ambassador Yauvoli adds.
The six students were Smilly Muna, Joseph Iniga, and Fiuka Orisi from the Solomon Islands, Lose Tahaafe and Amelia Taholo from Tonga and Mere Conivavalagi from Fiji.
Tongan law students, Ms Tahaafe and Ms Taholo said that they were both privileged and excited to be given the opportunity be do their internship at the MSG Secretariat. “This internship has made us appreciate the strength and dynamics of sub-regional institutions. We recognise the value and appreciate the work of the MSG Secretariat following our internship”.

Mr. Muna, Iniga and Orisi all from the Solomon Islands said that they “learned a lot about the work of the Secretariat” and appreciated the fact that they were able to apply their legal knowledge on a range of assignments they were tasked with.

Mr. Muna who was attached with the Governance and Legal program, said that his internship allowed him to grapple and research questions around sub regional institutions including human rights, legal frameworks, MSG treaties and regulatory policies that form the basis of the Secretariat’s work with its Members.

Manager Governance and Legal Affairs, Romulo Nayacalevu, reminded the law students to use the learning opportunities to do well in their legal practice. “For some of you, this might just be the beginning of your work in regional and international institutions and I encourage you to keep learning and use your legal knowledge and training especially here at the Secretariat to influence changes in legal policies and laws especially those that will build and strengthen our nations including our subregion for the betterment of our people,” he adds.

This is the second year for the MSG Secretariat to host interns of the Law Clinic class at USP.

For more information please contact: Christopher Waiwori – Senior Executive Officer