Islands Business - Rudd urged to lead Pacific into ‘future of promise’

CAIRNS, Australia -----– Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was today reminded that the future of small Pacific island nations is in his hand as he took over as chair of the Pacific Islands Forum. “Prime Minister Rudd, there is a future for the Pacific,” said Forum secretary general Neroni Tuiloma Slade of Samoa. “It is a future of infinite promise. “I ask that you lead us there.”

Mr Slade was speaking at the opening of the 40th Pacific Islands Forum inside the spacious Cairns Convention Centre along the city’s colourful waterfront.
All 16 members of the Forum were represented at the opening ceremony with the exception of Fiji after its membership was suspended in May 2009 following its refusal to restore parliamentary democracy in the island nation by this year.

In his address, Secretary General Slade singled out the global economic crisis and climate change as major issues confronting the Pacific Forum. Each day he said, the global economic and financial system seemed to be edging towards tipping point. “The most debilitating financial global crisis effects are still evolving, and what’s clear is that no single Pacific economy is spared. “Typically, the small and least able to cope will register the most serious of consequences and the compounding H1N1 pandemic.”

Climate change is also a huge challenge Secretary General Slade said. It is already taking its toll in islands of the Pacific. “In each Forum island countries, alarm and damage are being caused right now, today.
“Global science and basic economics foretell far worse for tomorrow. “Significantly, global assessment acknowledge and keep acknowledging key exposure of and vulnerability of small island states.” This, the former Samoan attorney general and retired judge of the International Criminal Court is the context of the leaders’ meeting in Cairns this week. “This is the real agenda of your 40th meeting. “These are the major issues of our time. “They are challenges that come not on single file and cannot be kept by the response of one.

“The experience of the Forum in the past 39 meeting points to the inevitably of togetherness. “Its at it best when it acts as a region. “At times of crisis, it’s the natural way. “It’s the essence of the Pacific Way.
Secretary General Slade also paid tribute to outgoing Forum chair Toke Talagi, the premier of Niue whom he described as a voice of authority and someone who stood for the principles and ideals of the Forum over the past year.
“His commitment, his example and quality of leadership look well beyond the immediate,” said Mr Slade.