REMARKS: Pacific Islands Forum Chair, Hon. Jeremiah Manele, at the Opening Ceremony of the PIFLM54

SALUTATIONS
● The Honourable ‘Aisake Valu Eke, Prime Minister of Tonga and Outgoing Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum
● Your Excellencies – Heads of State and Heads of Government,
● Honourable Speaker,
● Honourable Members of Cabinet,
● Honourable Ministers from across our Blue Pacific Continent
● Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum,
● Distinguished Senior Officials
● Heads of Delegations of our Associate Members,
● Heads of our CROP Agencies,
● Representatives of the Private Sector,
● Our friends from the Civil Society,
● Our representatives of faith-based organisations,
● Our Youth,
● Members of the Media,
● Wansolwara voyagers,
● Distinguished participants and members of our Pacific family,
● Fellow Solomon Islanders,
● Ladies and Gentlemen,
 

Gud fala evening evriwan and welkam to the Hapi Isles.

It is a great honour and a deep privilege for the Government and the People of Solomon Islands to host our Forum Family here on our shores for this 54th Pacific Islands Forum.

Indeed, the true beauty of the Forum is the opportunity that we have to share the richness of our culture, diversity and heritage through the annual convenings of our Leaders Summit, across our Blue Pacific Continent.

We are so proud to have this opportunity to host you all this year – tagio tumas.

Indeed, for us in Solomon Islands, this week is a culmination of months of preparations both in provinces and here in Honiara. I thank my fellow country men and women, and partners for corralling together in our effort to make your time here with us, a
memorable experience.

I pay special acknowledgement to the people of Guadalcanal, the traditional owners and custodians of this land, and I pay tribute to their enduring stewardship and cultural heritage.

Transition of the Forum Chair
At this juncture, let me also acknowledge the leadership and tenacity of the Kingdom of Tonga who has carried out diligently
the chairing responsibilities of the Pacific Islands Forum over the last 12 months.

We have all witnessed and felt the Tongan mafana throughout Tonga’s tenure as Forum Chair – under both the former Prime
Minister Sovaleni as well as our brother here with us this evening, Prime Minister Eke – malo ‘aupito.

For Solomon Islands, and on behalf of my Government, I acknowledge with deep gratitude the confidence placed on me by
my Colleague Leaders, to take on the reigns of Forum Chair.

The magnitude of the task ahead does not escape me, but I will rely on and remain grateful for the counsel of colleagues Leaders over the next 12 months.

This, our 54th Pacific Islands Forum, marks a significant moment for our region as we come together to reaffirm our unity, our
values, and our collective resolve.

It is my hope that the discussions we have this week, the political settlements we reach and the theme we celebrate tonight, will begin to materialise during our chairing tenure over the next 12-months.

Reflections on the Past
Much has happened since the Forum was birthed 54 years ago.
As with culture and traditions, the character and nature of the Pacific Islands Forum has evolved with time.

Indeed, Solomon Islands last hosted the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting thirty-three (33) years ago in 1992. In his
opening address at that meeting, the late Sir George Lepping reminded us that:
“The old Order in the world is rapidly changing, we must adjust to the new realities and the new competition for resources and markets. The need for regional cooperation has therefore become more important and more compelling.
Working together in cooperation, to achieve our common aspirations, will produce greater economic development for our
people than operating as individual competing nations. We will have a more significant impact on the world stage by acting in concert than by addressing our aims individually”.

Those sentiments uttered thirty-three years ago resonate even more today as we navigate the evolving challenges of this era.
And yet, through this evolution, our solidarity has continued to stand the test of time – but we cannot be complacent, and we
must not take our relationships, as a Forum Family, for granted.

Indeed, our regionalism journey can be likened to the wansolwara voyage by Tepuke and Uto ni yalo across the seas from Temotu to Guadalacanal – navigating the storms and waves across the ocean to reach our destination.
Success lies not only in the destination, but the journey itself.
Similarly for regionalism, our success is in our collective journey across to achieve our shared vision.

Theme for the 54PIFLM
The theme of this year’s Forum — “Iumi Tugeda: Act Now for an Integrated Blue Pacific Continent” — is both a reflection of
who we are and a call to where we must go.
It speaks to our shared identity, our interconnectedness, and our responsibility to shape a sustainable future for our people.
“Iumi Tugeda” — reflects the spirit of Pacific solidarity, rooted in kinship, mutual respect, and the Pacific Way. In Solomon
Islands, it is a principle that underpins our kastom and wantok system - traditions that honour and elevates the value of kinship.
“Act Now” reminds us that the challenges we face demand immediate and united responses.

“An Integrated Blue Pacific Continent” reaffirms our shared vision and commitment to working together and envisions a region that is not only connected by geography, but by purpose, values, and vision.

Vision for the Week Ahead
To my Colleague Leaders, I am hopeful that over the course of this week, we will use our time together to tok stori, to deepen our understanding of each other’s perspectives and more importantly, to find a way forward on the emerging challenges and opportunities on our horizon, as a Blue Pacific Continent.

When you leave our shores at the end of this week, I am hopeful that you will do so with the reassurance that the winds are
behind our sails and there is a clear way forward over the 12-months on our journey to deepen regionalism.

This is our time. This is our opportunity. Let us use this time together to be clear on the expectations and decisions that we
have on the issues before us this week – on political leadership and unity, the regional system, deepened regionalism and
partnerships.

One thing is for certain, we must continue to invest in our regional organisations. They must grow from strength to strength
and more so, that they continue to respond to the needs of its members. I look forward to discussing the opportunities of
working towards stronger intergovernmental organisations that embrace the spirit and purpose of international law.

However, the true highlight of our time together this week will be the culmination and endorsement of two key regional initiatives that will reaffirm the leadership of our region, globally:
(i.) Firstly, the signing of the Agreement to Establish the Pacific Resilience Facility; and
(ii.) Secondly, the endorsement and commemoration of the Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration.

Taken together, it will be a strong political recommitment to resilience and peace across our Blue Pacific Continent.

Indeed, I am particularly grateful that our gathering here this week will also witness the endorsement of the Ocean of Peace
Declaration, an initiative proposed by the most senior Leader amongst us this evening – Prime Minister Rabuka, a true friend
of Solomon Islands.

In the spirit of dialogue and perspectives, a key element of this week will also be the valuable opportunity to tok stori with key
regional stakeholders:
(i.) With the Heads of our Council of RegionalOrganisations in the Pacific who lead the implementation of our political decisions and aspirations;
(ii.) With our Private Sector, who are the engine of economic development across our island economies;
and of course
(iii.) With our Civil Society, who represent the perspectives and views of our communities and continue to play an important role in accountability and monitoring of political decisions.

These dialogues are a demonstration of our commitment to inclusivity – but the dialogues alone are not sufficient – it is only
the beginning. There is work yet to be done to ensure that we are able to follow through on these conversations.

Partnerships
In saying this, I must also reaffirm and appreciate the value of our partners and partnerships. Indeed, these are critical to the
achievements of our aspirations – the arrangements for this entire week has only possible because of the support of our
partners.
By the same tenor, allow me to take this opportunity to sincerely acknowledge our partners for their understanding on the position taken in relation to this 54 th convening of the Pacific Islands Forum. We look forward to inviting you back to engage with us at our next opportunity.

Special Acknowledgements
Before I close tonight, let me recognise in a very special way our Pacific Youth who have stood with Vanuatu in seeking the ICJ
opinion on state responsibility on the impact of climate change.

In our midst, let me acknowledge Solomon Islands youths, Solomon Yeo, Cynthia Houihi and Rodrick Rolland joining wantoks from Tonga, Australia, Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoa - the region celebrates your innovation and resilience and we thank you for your advocacy and service - tagio tumas.

It would be remiss of me if I did not also acknowledge our Secretary General, Baron Waqa and his team, for his untiring
efforts to ensure we have a successful Leaders meeting this week.

Thank you, Mr Secretary General.

Previewing the Opening Ceremonies
My Colleague Leaders, Ladies and Gentlemen,

In Solomon Islands, our cultural diversity is always celebrated.
Indeed, you will find a piece of the Pacific in the vast range of cultural traditions that we celebrate – whether it be dance, song
or chants. Throughout the Hapi Isles you will find traits from Micronesia, Polynesia and of course from across Melanesia. We
speak more than 87 different languages across these islands and yet, we are still able to converse as one.

This evening, we will showcase this heritage, in all its diversity.

We are here to celebrate the unity of the Pacific with our dance. With the beat of the drums we come together in solidarity with our regional family. We will chant with one voice, one ocean and one people on issues that matter to us.

Conclusion
As I close, I leave with you the guiding words from our National Crest – “To Lead is to Serve”.

May we lead with humility, wisdom and unwavering dedication to our people across the Blue Pacific.

God bless our Forum Family and our people across our Blue Pacific Continent.

Tagio tumas