Bainimarama Plays Pivotal Role in Saving PIF from Disintegration
P
rime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has played a prominent and influential role in keeping the Pacific Islands Forum
intact.
He has had to master all these years of experience in foreign affairs and diplomacy to avoid PIF’s disintregration.
His loyal colleague and special envoy, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, on his instructions, had worked hard behind the scenes in a series of diplomatic shuttles to smoothen the structures for the deal.
Mr Bainimarama walked into a frosty environment when he took on the reins as PIF chair.
Members of the Micronesian bloc had threatened to pull out from PIF in protest against the appointment of former Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna as Secretary General replacing Dame Meg Taylor of Papua New Guinea.
The Micronesians had contended that this was their turn and they needed to be treated equally.
It was a difficult time for Mr Bainimarama who was omitted from a list, drawn up by the Anericans, of Pacific leaders invited to attend a top climate change meeting.It caused a diplomatic spat because Mr Bainimarama was the region’s leader in the climate campaign. It was being perceived at the time that he was given the cold shoulder as a response to the PIF’s Secretary-General stoush. The United States has strong influence in Micronesia.
In trying to diffuse the tension over the issue Mr Bainimarama had withdrawn Ratu Inoke as Fiji’s nominee but Mr Puna was elected.
It was against this backdrop that Mr Bainimarama and Ratu Inoke began their mission to look for a win-win agreement that will avert a pullout by Micronesian states.
Agreement
The agreement that has been adopted after a meeting of leaders in Suva, to be ratified by other PIF members next month is that two deputy Secretary-General posts will be created for Melanesia and Micronesia.
Micronesia will hold the Secretary General post when the term of Mr Puna from Polynesia expires.
The five-year term for the positions is rotated along the sub regions, beginning in 2024. The PIF chair will also be rotated.
Pacific Ocean Commisioner
A Pacific Ocean Commissioner as a role separate and distinct from the duties of the Secretary-General will be established.
The office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner shall be based in Micronesia, the term of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner shall last three years, and the Commissioner shall report directly to the Leaders.
After a high-level leaders dialogue in Suva, the President of the Federated States of Micronesia David Panuelo recognised Mr Bainimarama for his leadership.
He said: “I give my thanks to my dear brother Prime Minister Bainimarama, who has extended to our country and our sub-region peace, friendship, cooperation, and love in our common humanity while capably demonstrating his knowledge of our perspective and contrasting with his own.
“I also give my thanks to my dear sister Prime Minister Fiame, my dear brother Prime Minister Brown, and my dear brother Secretary-General Puna, who have done the same.”
Leaders head home
As the leaders headed home yesterday they all spoke of their optimism about PIF’s future. Mr Panuelo said “a black cloud has disappeared from the Pacific.”
If you were at Nausori Airport yesterday you would notice Ratu Inoke spending probably most the day there, farewelling the leaders. From early in the morning to late afternoon. He would be feeling good too - mission accomplished.