| Development: SPC SPELLS OUT PLANS TO TACKLE KEY ISSUES |
Rodgers highlights need to work together
When Dr Jimmie Rodgers, SPC Director-General, spoke on key issues facing the Pacific region in the next decade, he captured the attention of CRGA delegates with his succinct appraisal of where the Pacific is headed.
Issues highlighted included health and education, reliability of food supplies, involvement of youth in national development, compliance with international agreements, conservation of resources such as fisheries for the future, political stability and land tenure.
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At the CRGA meet.... Dr Jimmie Rodgers (right) and Dr Colin Tukuitonga.
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These are not new issues, nor did Rodgers claim to have the answers, but he stressed the need for islands nations and development partners such as SPC to work together on them. The balance between the number of people and resources available to support them would, of course, impact on all these issues.
Pacific Islands populations are expected to increase rapidly in the next decade with continued rural-urban drift. SPC’s technical expertise in health, agriculture, forestry and fisheries will play an important role in supporting food security and economic development in the region and giving rural people, who make up the majority of Pacific Islands populations, options for earning a livelihood.
People first
Rodgers said the welfare of people was central to all development efforts, which was why a ‘people first’ approach was being spelled out by SPC in its new corporate plan for 2007-2012. In keeping with this approach, SPC recently merged four programmes relating to youth, women, culture and community education into the Human Development Programme.
One of the goals of the new programme, which is headed by Linda Petersen from Fiji, is to ensure these social issues are taken into account in all aspects of SPC’s work.
Focus on small islands states
SPC’s Suva-based Deputy Director-General, Falani Aukuso, who comes from Tokelau, spoke eloquently of living in one of the Pacific’s small islands states (SIS) when he presented SPC’s plan to respond better to their special needs.
Twelve of SPC’s members are SIS and delegates were well aware of the limitations of size and isolation compounded by inadequate and expensive communication and sea and air transport.
Rodgers was to visit Tokelau immediately after the CRGA meeting with SPC staff and representatives from other regional and international organisations to work with the government on developing a joint country strategy for the provision of assistance.
A similar strategy is already underway for Kiribati. SPC will work with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and other regional agencies to ensure maximum impact in addressing SIS issues.
SPC’s public health programme
A high point for the meeting occurred when Dr Colin Tukuitonga, a New Zealand-based public health specialist who hails from Niue, presented the findings of the review of SPC’s public health programme.
“It’s important for the region to make health a central issue in the development agenda,” said Tukuitonga. “SPC has done some tremendous work, for example, on the regional strategy to fight HIV and AIDS and surveillance for emerging communicable diseases.
But pressing priorities such as diabetes and heart disease have not been as well supported and these types of diseases are now the leading causes of death in the region.”
Delegates welcomed SPC’s openness in seeking an external review of this important programme. SPC will now consider its findings to ensure its health services, which emphasise practical support and training, target the changing needs of Pacific Islanders.
international agreements
Pacific governments have no choice about meeting numerous international agreements, such as those of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Captain John Hogan of SPC’s Regional Maritime Programme told the meeting of the programme’s work with islands governments to meet the critical requirements of IMO agreements.
Acknowledging the programme’s role, Carl Hunter, Director of the Pacific Division of the Cook Islands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, said, “Given the fact that the Cook Islands Maritime Division consists of a sole officer, the assistance provided by SPC’s Maritime Programme has been invaluable. In turn, our Maritime Division has been able to assist authorities in other islands.”
Moving ahead
“The agenda presented at the meeting required the membership to really make decisions on SPC’s future directions, what they want SPC to do, and how it should do it,” said Rodgers.
“And by accepting a ten percent increase in their membership contributions to SPC, they gave us a vote of confidence in the work of the organisation, its direction and its leadership.”
The success of this year’s CRGA meeting is a good omen for next year when SPC will celebrate its 60th anniversary. As a delegate commented, SPC’s longevity is a testament to the continuing relevance of the services it provides.
• For more information on SPC, visit www.spc.int
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