Niue was represented at the 29th Small Island States Leaders meeting by the Minister for Social Services Hon Billy Talagi yesterday in Tuvalu.
This is despite the
fact that Niue
had withdrawn previously from the SIS meeting four years ago. At the 46th Forum Leaders meeting in Papua New Guinea Premier Sir Toke Talagi had announced Niue’s withdrawal from the Small Island States forum.
At the SIS meeting yesterday the outgoing Chair of the Forum Prime Minister for Nauru, Baron Waqa expressed his delight and highlighted NIue’s return to the Small Island States forum.
Dame Meg Taylor, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum delivered opening remarks extending gratitude to Prime Minister Sopoaga for the wonderful hosting hospitality and congratulated and welcomed the President of the Federated States of Micronesia, David Panuelo to his first meeting of SIS Leaders.
Tuvalu’s leader and climate change champion Enele Sopoaga led the SIS meeting and emphasized the importance of focusing on the humanitarian and not the political needs. He says that there should be solidarity both regionally and as a Forum family to strengthening global action on climate change.
He reiterated the priority actions highlighted for the regional strategy and roadmap which included climate change, transportation, health and fisheries.
The small islands states
group of nine Pacific nations meet prior to the official opening of the Forum Leaders meeting which is taking place today.
By
Fiafia Rex in Funafuti, Tuvalu