PIDF

The Development Forum was set up by Fiji when it was suspended from the Pacific Islands Forum in 2009 following the Frank Bainimarama led coup of 2006.

The Solomon Star reports a statement from the Secretariat said the postponement of this year's event came after a request from the host and chair, Solomons Prime Minister Rick Hou.

The reasons for the move have not been made clear.

The meeting had been planned to coincide with the country's 40th anniversary celebrations as well as the Melanesian Arts Festival.

The conference organized by Pacific Island Development Forum (PIDF) will build on and incorporate the principles of green growth or green economy.

PIDF secretary general, Francois Martel, says the conference aims to build a road map to sustainable development and blue economy.

In his opening speech Milner Tozak, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Solomon Islands said Solomon Islands is delighted to be chairing the Blue Economy conference.

The Queen’s Young Leader Award recognises and celebrates exceptional people aged 18-29 from across the Commonwealth, who are taking the lead in their communities and using their skills to transform lives.

PIDF Secretary General, François Martel said the dedication and innovation of exceptional young Pacific people making a positive impact in the lives of others and within their communities especially for common Pacific issues, such as social justice and climate change, deserves recognition.

It will be the fourth summit of the PIDF and the first to be held outside of Fiji.

Island Sun reports that the Solomon Islands prime minister Manasseh Sogavare accepted a proposal by the PIDF Secretariat to be this year's host, while he was in Fiji this month on his tour of Melanesia as chairman of the Melanesia Spearhead Group.

The Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO) and the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO) signed the PIDF Charter on Monday.

“For a long time now, CSOs and NGOs have been knocking on the doors of Government. We have been pushing at the regional level for the inclusion and recognition of civil societies,” said Emele Duituturaga, the Executive Director for PIANGO.

For both parties, this enables them to further the work that they do.

Called the France Oceania Summit, most leaders of the Pacific attended including the founder and current chair of the PIDF, Prime Minister of Fiji, Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama.

Also in attendance was the new Secretary General of the PIDF Francois Martel and his climate adviser Dr Mahendra Kumar. 

Foreign Affairs Minister, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, says this is part and parcel of Fiji’s strategy to have more of a voice in the international arena.

“PIDF is expected to be granted Observer Status with the UN General Assembly in 2016. It has already received tacit recognition by the French government with an invitation to the Oceania Summit in Paris on the 26th of this month.”

Speaking in Fiji's Parliament, Kubuabola reiterated that the PIDF does not duplicate that of the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat

For these small Pacific Island Nations, they are already feeling the effects of climate change and they hope that the time to act is now then later.

He has been in the front line when it comes to being the voice of the Pacific on climate change.

This PIDF meeting is again an avenue for Anote Tong to raise his concern on the topic.

He told members of the PIDF that climate change now affects everyone in the World and there is a need to work together.

Pacific Island Development Forum members were also given an insight of what other countries in the world are facing in their fight against climate change.

They were urged that the best way forward is to look for a common solution that will be able to address all of the current problems.

Marshall Islands Foreign Affairs Minister Tony de Brum said the Pacific needed the PIDF because the former South Pacific Commission set up to look after the Pacific couldn't do so because of influence from donors such as US and UK.

He said donors gave funds with strings attached and it prevented regional organisations from doing what they were initially set up for. This, he said, had happened again to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and there was a need to have the PIDF.