‘In the coming decades, SPC will have to apply itself to emerging challenges in all spheres of its core activities. On the health front, the region is faced with growing numbers of HIV/AIDS affected people.'


Bringing development to small, isolated, grossly under resourced populations widely sprinkled across millions of square kilometres of ocean can be the most challenging of tasks. The lack of adequate human and financial resources among a number of other constraints puts their governments at a severe disadvantage in implementing development and modernisation programmes in every important sector affecting the unique lifestyles of Pacific islanders.

Their remote geographic position and tiny size often keeps them off the radar of the world’s attention, except in the event of natural disasters to which they are quite prone. Much of the popular exposure they receive in the global media is through tourist brochures and travel shows showcasing their pristine environments. The real issues that affect islanders are hardly ever in the media spotlight.

The Pacific islands region’s low mindshare in the world’s consciousness translates into a very small share of voice in world affairs, including matters crucial to their very survival—sea level rise and management of oceanic natural resources, for instance.

Their remoteness and the logistic challenges they present also make efficient management of programmes a tough task for global development agencies whose activities span the entire world.

This is where regional organisations come in. Stationed where the action is, these organisations channel funding from diverse resources and harness expertise from wide ranging disciplines helping implement development programmes tailored to the specific needs of the local people -contextualising global trends to local environments and needs.  

One such premier organisation—and among the oldest—in this region is the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC). It celebrates the sixtieth year of its existence this month. Originally formed in 1947 by colonial powers to help development in the islands they administered, the ownership of the organisation (previously called the South Pacific Commission) passed on to the islands nations themselves as they gained independence in the latter half of the last century.

 

Dividing its work into three focus areas—land, marine and social resources—over the decades, the SPC has contributed significantly in the fields of fisheries, agriculture and health. These three are quite simply the most vital sectors for the islands’ predominantly subsistence economies.

In doing so, it has monitored international trends in these fields and made available both financial and human resources by way of expertise while implementing its many initiatives; not to mention advocacy of several important issues touching the youth, women, culture and traditional knowledge at both national and regional levels.

As well as implementing its programmes, the SPC has amassed a treasure trove of statistical data and information about Pacific peoples and the region’s natural resources, which indeed is a pioneering effort and has grown to be a resource consulted by a range of organisations worldwide.

In the coming decades, SPC will have to apply itself to emerging challenges in all spheres of its core activities. On the health front, the region is faced with growing numbers of HIV/AIDS affected people.

Lifestyle diseases like diabetes are also on the rise. So are older communicable diseases like tuberculosis. The organisation’s many skills will be put to the test as it works its way through these and new issues that are bound to crop up.

There is continuing pressure on littoral and marine resources because of environmental factors and unsustainable harvesting practices both on land and in the ocean.

With marine resources reported to have alarmingly depleted in other regions of the world, the focus is now on the Pacific Ocean with the world’s major powers vying with one another for its rich resources.

Much of this has the potential to spark future conflict even within the region. SPC’s experience in advocacy and helping shape national and regional policy will come in handy for its many member nations.

We appreciate SPC’s impressive track record and important contributions to the wellbeing of the region’s people and their lives. And while congratulating it on the 60th anniversary of its founding, we wish it well in its future programmes in bringing prosperity, wellbeing, sustainable development and the preservation of the region’s unique and irreplaceable ecosystems and culture.