[Press-releases] Press Release - SPC - Riding the winds of change in 2007 and beyond

[Rosita Hoffmann]

Press Release

 

SPC - Riding the winds of change in 2007 and beyond

 

Wednesday 7 November 2007, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)
CRGA 37, Apia, Samoa - The Director-General of the Secretariat of the
Pacific Community (SPC), Dr Jimmie Rodgers, has described 2007 as a
'very busy and productive' year for SPC.

 

Dr Rodgers made the comment in his report at the opening of SPC's
governing council meeting, the 37th meeting of the Committee of
Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CRGA 37) - which is
also the 60th anniversary meeting of SPC - in Apia, Samoa today. 

 

'We have made good progress in implementing the major decisions taken by
CRGA 36 last year,' he said.

 

This work includes five Joint Country Strategies (JCS), a youth mapping
exercise and a small island states (SIS) shipping study. Good progress
has also been made in work on statistics, fisheries, forestry, health,
and technical and vocational education and training (TVET).

 

On the implementation of the Pacific Plan digital strategy, Dr Rodgers
said, 'We have exceeded expectations.' The Secretariat has secured the
resources needed to implement the Pacific rural interconnectivity system
(RICS), which will provide Internet access to rural and remote areas of
the region. Dr Rodgers said this project would open economic potential
for small businesses in rural areas as well as bring education to rural
areas via VSAT. The Australian Government has funded the low-cost
Pacific RICS.

 

In addition, SPC and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) have
facilitated consultations between 12 SPC member Pacific Island countries
and territories (PICTs) and the private sector on a new submarine cable
initiative, the South Pacific Information Network (SPIN), for which
France announced its support at the recent Forum Leaders meeting in
Tonga.

 

Dr Rodgers said these two major initiatives are new milestones for the
region: they have financial backing; they spring from a platform that
was agreed to by all leaders in the region, including the leaders of
non-Forum members of SPC; and they have been achieved in a very short
time.

 

These two projects and the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) initiative have
the potential to open new opportunities for development in the region.
'In order to realise this potential, we need to be bold and ask the
right questions, such as "Where does the region need to be in 10 years'
time?" and mobilise resources to achieve our goals. My plea is for us to
be bold and move beyond our reach, ahead of incremental approaches,' Dr
Rodgers said.

 

Papua New Guinea's High Commissioner based in Fiji, Peter Eafeare,
acknowledged SPC's contribution to the region, saying the organisation
had made a difference in all spheres. He said that through its
programmes SPC had brought changes to the livelihoods of people in the
region.

 

The Kiribati High Commissioner to Fiji, Reteta Nikuata-Rimon, said her
country was encouraged by SPC's greater focus on country priorities,
given the increase in challenges faced by SIS such as Kiribati.
Nikuata-Rimon said Kiribati values the contributions of SPC as they make
a difference to the lives of its people.

 

Photo captions:

 

Photo 1:

Dr Jimmie Rodgers speaking to the local media after presenting his
report to the delegates of PICT members at the gymnasium of the National
University of Samoa, in Apia

 

Photo 2:

His Excellency Mr Peter C.L. Eafeare, Papua New Guinea High Commissioner

 

Photo 3:

Her Excellency Ms Reteta Nikuata-Rimon, Kiribati High Commissioner to
Fiji

 

For more information, contact Rita Narayan, SPC correspondent for CRGA
37 and the 5th Pacific Community Conference, via email: ritan at spc.int or
by phone: +685 7206902. You can also check SPC website at www.spc.int.

 

CRGA 37 started today and will end on Friday 9 November 2007. It will be
followed by the 5th Conference of the Pacific Community on Monday 12 and
Tuesday 13 November.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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