PIF prepares for New Caledonia fact-finding trip

Reducing violence is one of the top priorities for the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretary-General for their upcoming mission to New Caledonia.

The fact-finding mission was confirmed by New Caledonia President, Louis Mapou earlier this week for the dates of 27 - 29 October, a day after the conclusion of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sāmoa.

New Caledonia has been rocked with political unrest after protests and riots broke out in Noumeā on 13 May.

It follows France’s decision to expand voting rights to French expatriates, which was opposed by pro-independence groups.

The electoral reform has now been scrapped by France’s new Prime Minister, Michel Barnier.

The tour was given the green light in early August after France’s top diplomat in the Pacific, Veronique Roger-Lacan, confirmed it to then PIF chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister, Mark Brown.

It was then cancelled due to disagreements between the New Caledonian and French government.

But PIF Secretary-General Baron Waqa has reaffirmed the mission would go ahead before Christmas, saying planning this time around has been more collaborative.

PIF Secretary General and former Nauru President, Baron Waqa. Photo/Ala Vailala

“We want to just encourage the New Caledonians and the French to keep dialogue open and the conversation going,” he told PMN News.

“Hopefully that we can make this visit a success, limiting and just trying to eliminate all problems that are prevalent and reducing the violence as much as we can.

“I think that's the, you know, that's the main thing is to just see that peace and harmony is ensured.”

PIF say the mission is strictly observational in line with the request of the Government of New Caledonia.

France’s ambassador to New Zealand told PMN News earlier this month that the mission will meet with “everybody on the ground” to ensure proper reporting.

Leading the mission is the Forum Chair and Tonga Prime Minister, Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni who’s hopeful the trip will be useful to bringing about a peaceful solution.

Tonga PM, Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni with Luxon. Photo/Ala Vailala

“It's more about listening to what their views are on what's happening and hopefully we can bring back some information and let the leaders decide on how we can best help New Caledonia,” he told PMN News.

Hu’akavameiliku will be joined by fellow leaders, the Prime Ministers of the Cook Islands and Fiji, Mark Brown and Sitiveni Rabuka.

Hu’akavameiliku, Waqa and Rabuka have also been attending the CHOGM in Sāmoa.

Waqa reaffirmed the Commonwealth’s relevancy within the Pacific.

“The Pacific Islands Forum, we care for ourselves in the region. We have a smaller family, but with CHOGM, it brings in other parts of the world.

“This is useful for the partnership that we look for, and these have to be genuine. And working in a family, we know that it will be.

“I think the takeaway is the willingness for everyone to work together.

“You listen around the table, you can hear, you know, ideas and the willingness to help each other. I mean, with the same sort of themes again, like climate change and developmental issues, not just socio-economic.”

When asked about the lack of contribution from high CO2 emitting countries to mitigating climate change, Waqa is optimistic CHOGM has helped to advocate for the Pacific.

“I mean the bigger countries, they're looking at themselves as well.

“You're hearing around the table that, you know, that they're more interested in solving their own problems too and contributing to the wider community of the CHOGM.

“And of course, for us in the Pacific, our main priority is to reduce emissions and to make sure that the climate challenges are fully addressed.”

Hu’akavameiliku shared similar reflections from CHOGM and touched on the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI) , an Australian-funded $400AUD million plan to improve training for officers and create a mobile regional policing unit.

Officers from PNG,Tonga and Vanuatu. Photo/Ala Vailala

Prime Ministers of Tonga, Australia, Sāmoa, New Zealand, Fiji and Tuvalu attended today's PPI event to thank officers invovled. Photo/Ala Vailala

More than 40 police officers from 11 Pacific countries participated in the PPI and provided security support for CHOGM in Sāmoa.

“Given that we just approved and endorsed this initiative in Tonga, one month on, it's already working,” Hu’akavameiliku said.

“So apart from that, we have the ocean declaration, which is important to all of us in the Pacific, given that 98% of our territories tend to be ocean.

“That's one key document that we'd like to actually fully support during our retreat.”