Inaugural MSG Sports Ministers Meeting a step forward for Melanesian Sports

Honorable MSG Sports Ministers and their representatives came together on 27 September 2019 for the Inaugural MSG Sports Ministers’ Meeting to deliberate the outcomes of the 7th MSG Sports Committee Meeting held earlier in the week. The first meeting of its kind proved fruitful and successful as discussions held created pathways for the development of sports within the Melanesian States.

Honorable Wesley Raminai, Vice Minister for Sports and National Events of Papua New Guinea and Chair of the Inaugural MSG Sports Ministers’ Meeting, greeted everyone present on behalf of the Government of PNG as the current Chair of the Secretariat before thanking his fellow colleagues for availing their time to attend this important Inaugural MSG Sports Ministers Meeting.

“The Inaugural Sports Ministers’ Meeting today will formulate the road map for sports going forward in the future and will set building blocks to strengthen and development capacity to harness the growth in the region.” He acknowledged the Director General Ambassador Amena Yauvoli, Mr. Ilan Kiloe Officer in Charge of the Secretariat and the staff for their continuous commitment and urged the members to support the work of the Secretariat.

“Today from this meeting, we all should support the MSG Secretariat by giving them the Political Wheel to drive the development of sports in the MSG region collectively and it must be seen as a collaborated outcome put together from this meeting.” urged Hon. Raminai.

As he closed his Opening statement, Hon. Raminai reminded the Sports Ministers of their importance at the meeting “I kindly request my fellow Sports Ministers this morning to seriously consider the recommendations of the 7th SCM meeting put forward for our deliberation. Our decisions made today from this meeting will shape the future of sports in the MSG region. Also I’d like to mention to my collegues ministers that our decision in this meeting will further determine the chances of one of our MSG countries qualifying in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”

The Officer in Charge of the MSG Secretariat, Mr. Ilan Kiloe, welcomed the Honorable Ministers on behalf of the Director General Ambassador Amena Yauvoli, acknowledging and thanking the members and Chair for their dedication and steadfast support towards the development of sports in the MSG region. Mr. Kiloe explained how the Secretariat under the leadership of Ambassador Yauvoli places emphasis and great importance on the MSG Sports, Arts and Culture programme.

“These programmes act as the ‘Glue that binds’ the MSG group together. You will be pleased to note that Director General has commissioned a comprehensive review of the structure of the MSG Secretariat to ensure that it delivers maximum benefits in this area of work of the Secretariat.” Mr. Kiloe told the Honorable Ministers present.

He added “It will not be easy, but I firmly believe that success comes with a price of persistent perseverance and determination.” before finishing his speech with well wishes for the discussions and deliberations that would follow.

Each Minister or representative of each MSG state spoke of the sports programmes, challenges and developments in their respective countries along with updates on their countries sporting participation at the world stage. Statements from each Minister also reflected the great importance of the programs their sporting bodies have been implementing with their youth and the willingness to help each other with development in areas that were needed to help strengthen their sporting goals and aims especially in the area of hosting international sporting events.

The Inaugural Sports Ministers’ Meeting ended on a high note with the Sports Ministers’ finalising their decisions on items presented on their agenda such as, the confirmation of the tournament name from Melanesian Cup to the MSG Prime Ministers Cup, a proposed date of reviving the tournament has been set to November 2020 and the cut-off date proposed by MSG Sports Ministers for the Secretariat to finalise the draft documents for legal consideration being set at December 2019.

The dates for the next MSG Sports Committee and Sports Ministers’ Meeting were also confirmed with the 8th MSG SCM being hosted in Lifou, New Caledonia in April 2020 followed by the 2nd MSG Sports Ministers Meeting.