PIFLM53: Mark Brown signs out as forum chair

Monday marked many milestones for the Pacific Islands Forum.

For its chair, Mark Brown, it was his last day in the hot seat, handing over the reins to Tongan Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi 'Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni.

Tongan Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi 'Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni is the new Pacific Islands Forum chair. Photo/Joseph Safiti

Brown says it has been a "great honour".

Brown, who is also the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, delivered his final speech as forum chair at the opening ceremony of the leaders meeting in Nuku’alofa.

PMN News Political Reporter 'Alakihihifo Vailala has an update from PIFLM53.

He thanked Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka for his efforts during his time in the Forum Troika which has spanned close to five years and ended with “God bless our blue Pacific continent”.

Despite marking his exit, Brown says he’ll still be around to mentor Sovaleni.

“We've got a number of agenda items on the books. Of course, first and foremost is looking at advocating a stronger voice again for the Pacific in issues around climate change, and access to climate.

“At this [Forum Leaders] meeting is the confirmation of the Pacific Resilience Facility and its domicile and its rules of engagement. So that's a work in progress that we've been working on as Pacific leaders for the last few years now, starting to take fruition.

“So it now has close to $200 million in pledges already. Again, this will be something that once leaders have finalised details on at the meeting, we're looking to take it to the UN General Assembly for a much larger pledging event to try and attract donors into that fund.”

The Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) aims to help vulnerable Pacific people exposed to climate change and disaster risks and is an endorsed regional collective action as a resourcing mechanism under the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent Implementation Plan.

PRF was endorsed by the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in August 2023.

Mark Brown, wife Daphne, with UN chief Antonio Guterres and other Forum members. Photo/Joseph Safiti

It focuses on Pacific-owned and Pacific-led solutions, including the opportunity for the region to invest in small grants-based but high-impact projects, to make communities disaster-ready and deliver grants quickly and efficiently through national government systems.

Brown says other matters such as New Caledonia will also be discussed this week. The French territory has been rocked with political unrest after protests and riots broke out in the capital, Noumea, on 13 May.

With the forum ' fact-finding’ mission to New Caledonia delayed due to differences between Paris and the local government, Brown says he’s optimistic the mission will go ahead.

Brown, Sovaleni, and the Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Jeremiah Manele, are expected to head the delegation.

Photo/Joseph Safiti

“Our focus would be to de-escalation of violence, promote a dialogue between the various groups to try and find a way forward to address the issues that led to this violence around calls for greater autonomy and independence, but also look at a pathway for the rebuilding of the lost businesses, the loss of the economy in New Caledonia.

“A pathway for the New Caledonian people to find increased prosperity. But we'll also be meeting with President Mapo, who is arriving this week as well. So it will be good to have a broad agreement and consensus on the purpose of the mission going to New Caledonia.”

Brown says the presence of United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, in Tonga brings a stronger voice and helps amplify Pacific voices at the UN.

“It brings a stronger advocacy voice for issues that the UN has been pushing for a long time around climate change, carbon emission reduction, climate finance contributions from the major emitters of carbon emissions, and looking at ways to address those that are most at risk of the impacts of climate change, which is the member countries that are in this forum.”

Forum leaders with the Tongan Crown Prince and UN chief. Photo/Joseph Safiti