SIS Leaders address major long-term challenges
PRESS STATEMENT (47/09)
LEADERS OF SMALLER ISLAND STATES ADDRESS MAJOR LONG-TERM CHALLENGES
Cairns, 4th August 2009 –
Leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum Smaller Island States (SIS) today agreed on measures to address major long-term challenges facing the SIS including sub-regional shipping, labour mobility, renewable energy and bulk procurement, impacts of climate change and strengthened development financing options.
The SIS Leaders’ meeting held in the northern Australian city of Cairns ahead of the 40th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ meeting was chaired by the Premier of Niue, Hon. Toke Talagi, MP. It was attended by Leaders of Cook Islands, Nauru, Niue, the Republic of Marshall Islands and Tuvalu. Palau was represented by their Vice-President and the Government of Kiribati represented by a special envoy. Observer at the Forum Tokelau was represented by their Ulu o Tokelau. Representatives of the Council of Regional Organisations for the Pacific (CROP) agencies also attended the meeting.
The SIS Leaders were pleased with the commencement in June this year of a regular SIS sub-regional shipping service to Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu using a vessel from the Kiribati Shipping Services Corporation Limited. This same service is expected to be extended to Wallis and Futuna soon. The feasibility and viability of a similar arrangement for a second sub-regional shipping service to include Samoa, Niue, Cook Islands, Tokelau, Tonga and American Samoa is being assessed. They further urged the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) to organise a joint meeting of importers and exporters from the countries involved in the SIS sub-regional shipping service.
On the bulk procurement of petroleum products initiative, the SIS Leaders noted the launch of the first phase of the Pacific Petroleum Project with the tendering for the establishment of the Project Implementation Unit which is expected to be set up by September this year. Four countries have so far signed the MOU formalizing the bulk procurement initiative, including the Cook Islands, Nauru, Niue and Tuvalu. Leaders encouraged SIS members and other Forum countries who have not signed the MOU for the project to do so.
The SIS Leaders commended Australia for its pilot labour mobility scheme and the New Zealand Regional Seasonal Workers Scheme noting the increase in the quota of seasonal workers from 5,000 to 8,000 as a result of demand and the success of the Scheme.
SIS Leaders also urged Australia and New Zealand to consider extending the temporary labour schemes to include other sectors other than just in the horticultural sector and also to extend the duration of employment to make it more cost effective for temporary labourers. SIS Leaders further agreed to improve their national capacities to provide employment for their people.
On climate change, the SIS Leaders expressed their deep concern by the serious and growing threat posed by climate change to the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being and security of the SIS countries. They reaffirmed their commitment to the ongoing development and implementation of Pacific tailored approaches to support national adaptation, mitigation and if necessary, relocation measures to combating climate change.
A joint statement by SIS Leaders called on the international community to cooperate and agree to targeted reductions to greenhouse gas emissions and called for the active assistance of both national and regional stakeholders with the support of development partners towards facilitating stronger regional coordination on climate change assistance.
The SIS Leaders noted the importance of making a commitment towards pursuing a renewable energy and energy efficiency future based on voluntary national targets that are achievable and practical. They further agreed that while committing to a renewable energy future and energy future targets, a policy mix of renewable energy and energy efficiency and/or fossil fuel development path may still offer the best option.
The SIS Leaders praised the work of the SIS Unit within the Forum Secretariat which includes the deployment of SIS Desk Officers who assist with the implementation of Pacific Plan initiatives at the national level. They urged the Secretariat to maintain the budget support towards the SIS Unit and the SIS Desk Officers. The Secretariat assured the SIS Leaders that support to the Unit will be maintained.
ENDS.
For more information on the SIS Leaders’ meeting contact, Mr Alfred Schuster, the Forum Secretariat’s Development Cooperation Adviser on phone 61 (0) 7 40424304 or email alfreds@forumsec.org.fj
LEADERS OF SMALLER ISLAND STATES ADDRESS MAJOR LONG-TERM CHALLENGES
Cairns, 4th August 2009 –
Leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum Smaller Island States (SIS) today agreed on measures to address major long-term challenges facing the SIS including sub-regional shipping, labour mobility, renewable energy and bulk procurement, impacts of climate change and strengthened development financing options.
The SIS Leaders’ meeting held in the northern Australian city of Cairns ahead of the 40th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ meeting was chaired by the Premier of Niue, Hon. Toke Talagi, MP. It was attended by Leaders of Cook Islands, Nauru, Niue, the Republic of Marshall Islands and Tuvalu. Palau was represented by their Vice-President and the Government of Kiribati represented by a special envoy. Observer at the Forum Tokelau was represented by their Ulu o Tokelau. Representatives of the Council of Regional Organisations for the Pacific (CROP) agencies also attended the meeting.
The SIS Leaders were pleased with the commencement in June this year of a regular SIS sub-regional shipping service to Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu using a vessel from the Kiribati Shipping Services Corporation Limited. This same service is expected to be extended to Wallis and Futuna soon. The feasibility and viability of a similar arrangement for a second sub-regional shipping service to include Samoa, Niue, Cook Islands, Tokelau, Tonga and American Samoa is being assessed. They further urged the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) to organise a joint meeting of importers and exporters from the countries involved in the SIS sub-regional shipping service.
On the bulk procurement of petroleum products initiative, the SIS Leaders noted the launch of the first phase of the Pacific Petroleum Project with the tendering for the establishment of the Project Implementation Unit which is expected to be set up by September this year. Four countries have so far signed the MOU formalizing the bulk procurement initiative, including the Cook Islands, Nauru, Niue and Tuvalu. Leaders encouraged SIS members and other Forum countries who have not signed the MOU for the project to do so.
The SIS Leaders commended Australia for its pilot labour mobility scheme and the New Zealand Regional Seasonal Workers Scheme noting the increase in the quota of seasonal workers from 5,000 to 8,000 as a result of demand and the success of the Scheme.
SIS Leaders also urged Australia and New Zealand to consider extending the temporary labour schemes to include other sectors other than just in the horticultural sector and also to extend the duration of employment to make it more cost effective for temporary labourers. SIS Leaders further agreed to improve their national capacities to provide employment for their people.
On climate change, the SIS Leaders expressed their deep concern by the serious and growing threat posed by climate change to the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being and security of the SIS countries. They reaffirmed their commitment to the ongoing development and implementation of Pacific tailored approaches to support national adaptation, mitigation and if necessary, relocation measures to combating climate change.
A joint statement by SIS Leaders called on the international community to cooperate and agree to targeted reductions to greenhouse gas emissions and called for the active assistance of both national and regional stakeholders with the support of development partners towards facilitating stronger regional coordination on climate change assistance.
The SIS Leaders noted the importance of making a commitment towards pursuing a renewable energy and energy efficiency future based on voluntary national targets that are achievable and practical. They further agreed that while committing to a renewable energy future and energy future targets, a policy mix of renewable energy and energy efficiency and/or fossil fuel development path may still offer the best option.
The SIS Leaders praised the work of the SIS Unit within the Forum Secretariat which includes the deployment of SIS Desk Officers who assist with the implementation of Pacific Plan initiatives at the national level. They urged the Secretariat to maintain the budget support towards the SIS Unit and the SIS Desk Officers. The Secretariat assured the SIS Leaders that support to the Unit will be maintained.
ENDS.
For more information on the SIS Leaders’ meeting contact, Mr Alfred Schuster, the Forum Secretariat’s Development Cooperation Adviser on phone 61 (0) 7 40424304 or email alfreds@forumsec.org.fj
