RELEASE: Ethical leadership vital under 2050 Strategy: Secretary General
Media Releases and News
23 February 2026
Achieving the highest standards of ethical leadership is central to the region achieving its broader aspirations under the 2050 Strategy, says Secretary General, Baron Divavesi Waqa.
Giving the opening remarks at the 6th Teieniwa Vision Anniversary celebration at the Forum Secretariat on Wednesday, the Secretary General said the anniversary was an important milestone in the region’s journey towards good governance, transparency, and accountability. “At the heart of this vision is the symbol of the ‘sailing canoe’, which represents our Pacific identity and the region’s unified efforts to combat corruption,” he said.
The anniversary celebration was attended by Members of the Diplomatic Corps, staff from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), local and international media, and a University of South Pacific (USP) academic.
“Across our Blue Pacific Continent, governments, institutions, and communities have advanced the implementation of the Vision, strengthening integrity systems despite the added complexities of geopolitical shifts, climate change, and the impacts of COVID-19.” According to Mr. Waqa, the work being undertaken under the anti-corruption regional framework is reinforcing public trust as well as the credibility of the Pacific’s regional institutions.
The UNODC’s Pacific Head of Office, Marie Pegie Cauchois, read a statement on behalf of the Kiribati President Taneti Maamau, who reflected on the signing of the regional anti-corruption framework by the region’s leaders in 2020. Acknowledging the progress in the region since the signing, President Maamau attributed “strengthened regional cooperation, legislative evolution, and a culture of transparency” to the framework.
“While we celebrate these milestones, we must remain humble and vigilant. The 6-year mark is not a finish line where we rest, but rather a significant opportunity for renewal as we consolidate our gains and reaffirm our momentum for the journey ahead,” he added.
“I wish to express my sincere thanks to my fellow Pacific Leaders for their dedication to turning our shared vision into a national reality. By successfully integrating the Teieniwa Vision into your own laws and institutions, you have proven that our unity goes far beyond words on paper.”
The anniversary celebration ended with a talanoa around the theme “Teieniwa Vision at Six: Integrity, Leadership, and Resilience in the Blue Pacific.”
