The Micronesia Islands Forum (MIF) 2024 concluded Tuesday with leaders committing to unity to navigate the complex issues facing the region.
Following two days of presentations on issues ranging from workforce development and transportation to energy, education, healthcare, digitisation, and cybersecurity, leaders agreed on the next order of business—establishing a secretary general.
“Each of us leaders have recognised the need to establish a secretary general to administer the Secretariat and to increase its capacity to respond to the expanding needs of the MIF,” Guam Governor Leon Guerrero said.
“A secretary general would be responsible for implementing the initiatives and recommendations discussed at this meeting. I’m confident that with this additional resource, we can achieve the goals that we have set for ourselves at this meeting. We can take control of our destiny.”
Leaders echoed the united stance one by one, including Palau Vice President J. Uduch Sengebau Senior, who said, “We are one Micronesia unified in solidarity and bounded by our shared history.”
Guam is currently serving as the host of MIF 2024. MIF, a regional intergovernmental organisation comprised of island nations and territories in the Micronesia sub-region of the Pacific which includes the Federated States of Micronesia(FSM), the Marshall Islands, Palau, Guam, Nauru, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the states of Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae.
