Pacific Islands Forum Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown Monday welcomed the new Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Baron Waqa.
“I am delighted to welcome the new Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Baron Waqa, as he begins his tenure at the Secretariat today” Brown said in a statement.
Highlighting Waqa’s experience, Brown noted, “A former Pacific Islands Forum Leader and Forum Chair in his capacity as President of the Republic of Nauru, Secretary General Waqa becomes the first Nauruan national to assume the Office of the Secretary General”
PM Brown emphasised the significance of Waqa’s leadership and outlining the Forum’s vision.
“It is a great honour to have Secretary General Waqa at the helm of our Secretariat and I, and indeed all Leaders, look forward to working with him to progress the priorities of our region in line with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, for the benefit of the Pacific peoples.
“Our vision is for a resilient Pacific region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion, and prosperity, that ensures all Pacific peoples can lead free, healthy, and productive lives,” he said.
Brown also expressed his confidence in Waqa’s leadership.
“On behalf of our Members, I commend SG Waqa and the work he will lead to deliver on this collective vision, said PM Brown.
Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti also congratulated Waqa.
“Congratulations to Baron Waqa on his appointment as Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS).
“I look forward to the continued and fruitful engagement between our two organiSations as we work together to address issues of mutual concern,” Chikoti said on social media platform X.
