Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat
Excelling together towards a progressive and prosperous Melanesia
Republic Of Fiji
Front de Liberational De Nationale Kanak et Solcialiste (FLNKS)
Papua New Guinea
Solomon Islands
Republic of Vanuatu
The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) was established during an informal meeting held in Goroka, Papua New Guinea on 17 July 1986 which was attended by the Prime Ministers of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu as well as a representative of the Front de Liberational the Nationale Kanak et Solcialiste (FLNKS) of New Caledonia. The meeting followed these Leaders’ vision, backed by a strong and shared political desire, for the entire decolonization and freedom of Melanesian countries and territories which were still under colonial rule in the South Pacific, thereby developing a stronger cultural, political, social and economic identity and link between the people and communities of Melanesia.
The MSG came into being as a result of an informal meetings of Heads of Government of Papua New Guinea
(PNG), Solomon Islands, Republic of Vanuatu, and a representative of the Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) of New Caledonia held on the 17th of July 1986, in Goroka, Papua New Guinea. The Heads of Governments agreed at their inaugural meeting that it was important to have common positions and solidarity in spearheading sub-regional issues of common interest, including the FLNKS cause for political independence in New Caledonia. Two years later, the MSG Agreed Principles of Cooperation among the Independent States in Melanesia was signed in Port Vila, Vanuatu on 14 March 1988 by the founding MSG Members namely, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
FLNKS formally joined in 1989 and Fiji was admitted as a Member in 1996 following the conclusion of the MSG Trade Agreement (MSGTA). Timor Leste and the Republic of Indonesia joined as Observers in 2011. Later in 2015, the Republic of Indonesia was accorded Associate Membership representing the five Melanesian Provinces of Indonesia, while the United Liberation Movement for West Papua was admitted as an Observer. The Chairmanship of MSG rotates every two years among Members.
The MSG has developed into a regional block with its own Trade Agreement (Revised in 2005), Agreement Establishing the MSG (signed on 23 March 2007) and its own headquarter building in Port Vila Vanuatu which opened at the 17thLeaders Summit on 30 May, 2008.
Since the inaugural meeting of July 1986, twenty one (21) biennial MSG Summits have been held with the last one being held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea from 13 to 14 February 2018. Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and the FLNKS of New Caledonia have been attending all Summits as members. Fiji initially attended as an observer until its admission as a member in 1996.
The MSG Leaders’ Gallery at the MSG Secretariat in
Port Vila, Vanuatu
VISION
An MSG Community that is strong, integrated, enlightened, happy, prosperous, secure and caring.
MISSION
Our Mission is to:
• Strengthen the integrity, cohesiveness and leadership of communities at all levels of society;
• Ensure that all stakeholders own the development through the entitlement of the benefits that accrue to them;
• Ensure that all stakeholders feel integrated not only into their own national communities but also in their MSG sub-regional communities;
• Educate all children and citizens to the levels of learning to which they aspire;
• Provide useful employment for all and for which they are renumerated appropriately;
• Use resources sustainably to maximise returns to the owners of these resources and to build wealth;
• Enable all to live together peacefully with the understanding that no one presents a threat to another; and
• Promote that all are free and equal and one is obliged to tend to another’s needs when one is disadvantaged by his or her circumstances.
OBJECTIVES
Political
The MSG is to be the ‘arc of stability’; good governance; political stability; political independence of people of Melanesian origin, lasting peace, unity and liberty from all forms of oppression and negative influence; sustained investment in peace building; commitment to regional integration at the national level to effect well-integrated sub-regionalism; less aid dependency; national pride – promoting cleanliness and beauty; shunning corruption; respect law and order; boldness, knowledge and courage to shape our own future that we aspire to achieve peace, security and enduring prosperity.
Economic
The MSG is to be the region of opportunity; prosperity; sustained economic growth; an economic miracle; economic and structural reforms to ensure better integration into the global economy; increased wealth attainment; protection of natural resources for the present and future generations; economies of scale – greater productivity and increased demand; opportunity for economic expansion; development of supporting infrastructures; and self-reliant.
Social
The MSG is to have improved social development indicators; achievement of higher living standards; promising future for all citizens; integral human development; enlightened community (educated); active youth and women participation; rise above mediocrity; initiate change to eradicate obstacles that stifle development and frustrate good governance; aim for the best; and teach children the Melanesian values of humility, respect, caring, the fear of God and to dream with hope for a better future.
Sustainable
The MSG is to cater for climate change mitigation and adaptation; develop balanced growth and sustainable resource-based economy; Green Growth policies; protection of the environment and perpetual opportunity for sustained development for many generations to come.
Signing of the Agreed Principles of Cooperation Among MSG Member States - 14 March 1988, Port Vila, Republic Of Vanuatu
