REMARKS: SG Baron Waqa at Welcome Ceremony

Salutations

The Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji;
Representatives of our Pacific Islands Forum Members;
Representatives of the Diplomatic Corp;
My colleague Heads of Agencies of the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific;
Forum Observer Organisations;
Representatives of our civil society;
My beautiful family, here to support me in this journey;
Ladies and Gentlemen

Introduction

•    I look around the room this evening, and I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation for humbling me with your presence at this occasion.

•    Ladies and gentlemen, what a privilege it is to stand here before you, as Secretary General of our beloved Pacific Islands Forum.

•    It is my great honour to take on this mantle, to serve our Blue Pacific Continent and its people.

•    At the outset, I take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank my great friend, Henry Puna, for his stewardship of the organisation for the last three years. His achievements are numerous:

-    The endorsement of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent;
-    The 2050 Implementation Plan;
-    The Revitalised Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration; and
-    his instrumental role in bringing our region back together; to name, but a few.

•    Henry leaves a strong legacy, and I am committed to carrying this momentum – accelerating the implementation of our Leaders’ priorities, in pursuit of our common vision.

•    Ladies and gentlemen, as the Forum Chair mentioned in his kind video remarks, I have certainly hit the ground running.

•    May I offer my sincere gratitude and thanks to the people and Government of Fiji, for welcoming me back home. While I may have been the President of Nauru for two terms, Fiji is the home of a strong part of my heritage and one that I am so very proud of.

•    By the same token, may I also thank the people and Government of the Solomon Islands, for welcoming me so graciously to their shores earlier this week for high level consultations.

•    I look forward to making my way across the region to hear directly from your governments – from your people – their short- and long-term expectations of Pacific regionalism.

Vision for the region

•    Ladies and gentlemen, my vision for the region is for peace, harmony, and unity, where we as a Blue Pacific, are truly of one heart, mind, and accord. A region that promotes stability and security, with a culture of love and respect.

•    As a region, together we will stand strong and firm, and be an exemplary model of solidarity, support, and partnership. Our responsibility and obligation for each other’s safety, security and well-being will be of paramount importance, under my leadership.

•    We will encourage each other to achieve new heights in our national and collective regional goals, which must lead to prosperity for all.

•    Ladies and gentlemen, our PIF membership has never been as strong as it is today. But we cannot afford to become complacent – we must continue to work every day to build and strengthen our bond, to ensure the achievement of our regional priorities and aspirations.

CROP

•    And indeed, the Pacific Islands Forum cannot not, and will not, do this alone.

•    We are but one cog in a regional architecture in transition, working collectively to deliver for our people.

•    To my CROP colleagues, I am steadfast in my commitment to elevating our collaborative efforts to deliver tangible outcomes on our Leaders’ priorities. I look very much forward to our first engagement in a few weeks on the 25th of June.

Partners

•    These same principles, of course, extend beyond the oceanic borders of our Blue Pacific. To our key partners and development agencies, you will play a critical role in supporting our organisations to deliver for our people. We have come a long way, and the past few years have demonstrated your steadfast commitment to align yourselves with the 2050 Strategy and our regional frameworks.

•    I urge you to continue working with us to align our programming, to streamline delivery for the member states we serve.

Closing

•    Friends, family,

•    I come into this role, in full recognition of the expectation and the sensitivities that come with being a regional diplomat and civil servant.

•    As I had mentioned to the staff on my first day here at PIFS, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the region and our Pacific people.

•    It is an honour and a privilege not only for me, but for my family and indeed, my country to have this opportunity to assume the office of the Secretary General once again.

•    I will count on your counsel, on your guidance and on your support as I begin this era of service for our Pacific People.

•    Tubwa kõrI. God bless you all.

•    I thank you all very much.