MSG Secretariat Officials commence talks with PNG Government

09 July 2019

Director General of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, Ambassador Amena Yauvoli and his staff met with the Honorable James Marape MP, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea and Chair of the MSG yesterday, as they commence week long consultations between the Secretariat and key members of the Papua New Guinea Government. It was the first meeting for the Director General to update the new Prime Minister on the strategic priorities and status of the Secretariat since Hon. James Marape had taken up office. 

The meeting with the Prime Minister, as Chair of MSG, held in his Office, was to seek the Chair’s advice on certain undertakings for the Secretariat including the date for the Special Leader’s Summit in the next few weeks for Leaders to deliberate on key strategic priorities of the Group including the MSG Climate Finance Strategy, Regional Security Strategy, MSG Trade Free Agreement and possible extension to allow for Labour Mobility, MSG Political issues, Governance issues including ratification of MSG treaties and strategic partnerships. Also on the agenda for discussion is the MSG Arts and Culture Program and MSG Sports Program which includes the revival of the Melanesian Football Cup. 

The Secretariat will work closely with the Office of the Chair of MSG to undertake preparations for the Special Summit and its Governing Body meetings. The Secretariat will also be working closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Papua New Guinea with the possibility of the MSG Special Leaders Summit being held soon after the PIFS Leaders Meeting in Tuvalu. Prior to the SLS, the MSG Governing Body meeting will have to meet a week earlier in a venue yet to be decided on.

Leading up to the meeting with the MSG Chair this week, MSG Secretariat officials had earlier met with the Secretary to PNG Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and her senior Officials, as well as officials in the Prime Minister’s Office & National Executive Council to hammer out issues for consideration by the Chair. 

As current Chair of the MSG, additional meetings and consultations have been scheduled throughout the rest of the week and next with the Minister for Justice and Deputy Prime Minister, Attorney General, Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Minister for Environment, conservation and Climate Change and the Minister for Police, and its senior officials to further reinforce support in moving some of the MSG agendas forward.

The delegation consisted of the Director General Ambassador Amena Yauvoli, Mr. Peter Eafeare, Deputy Director General, Mr. Christopher Waiwori, Senior Executive Officer and Mr. Romulo Nayacalevu, Program Manager Governance and Legal Affairs.