For Solomon Islanders, Eddie Gaza and Harry Bisako, the opportunity to do their internships at the Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat was one not to be missed. Both final year law students at the University of the South Pacific’s Emalus Campus took the opportunity to learn about the work programs of the MSG Secretariat.

“When we started our internship, we had a perspective about the work of the MSG, but since being here, we have learnt that the programs are broad and are determined by the MSG leader’s mandate,” the law students said.

“The MSG is more than a sub-regional block, it’s works in Economics and Trade, Political and Security Affairs, Climate Change, Natural Resource Management, Culture, Sports, Governance and Legal Affairs, captures the heart of the MSG Leader’s vision for our sub-region. I am fortunate to be given this tremendous opportunity to intern at the MSG Secretariat,” echoed, Eddie Gaza, from Malaita in the Solomon Islands.

The internship program which has been running in its second year now, sees law students taking the Law Clinic Class at USP Law School undertake ten weeks of practical attachment in law firms or legal institutions in Vanuatu.

In his address of well-wishing to the interns, the Director General of the MSG Secretariat, Ambassador Amena Yauvoli, told the interns that the Secretariat was pleased to have hosted them and supported their internship.

“The MSG belongs to our Members and it is great to see our young people seizing the opportunities to come and be a part of our program implementation at the Secretariat. We also see our partnership with the regional University, USP, as a strategic and a valuable one and that is why we are delighted to assist USP’s Law school in this placement,” the DG Yauvoli stressed.

Ambassador Yauvoli also reminded the interns that, “education is a lifelong process. After your graduation continue to learn and use your knowledge for the betterment of your country, the sub region of Melanesia and even the region. Your internship has given you an access to witness the practical realities of our work and appreciate the development needs of our sub-region, so use your learning to keep advancing and improving the lives of our people.”

In his remarks, Harry Bisako also from Malaita, said that, “the internship has made us appreciate the diplomatic, political and governance process that defines the core work of the MSG and we are delighted to have been a part of the inaugural MSG Sports Ministers meeting last week, where we witnessed firsthand how issues are negotiated and decisions taken by consensus by our leaders for the betterment of our sub-region.”

Romulo Nayacalevu, the Program Manager for Governance and Legal Affairs who facilitated the internship on behalf of the MSG said that, “the internship program allows interns to research and address issues that are often outside of the mainstream legal issues they learn at university. This is one of the rich and valuable components of the internship program. Students use their knowledge of the law to address crucial issues we confront in our work ranging from institutional strengthening to labor mobility to sports frameworks, diplomatic essentials to security threats in the sub-region among others.”

The internship ended this week.