By Pita Ligaiula in Koror, Palau
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr has called on Small Island States (SIS) leaders to focus on practical outcomes for their people as Palau assumed the chairmanship of the Small Island States group.
Addressing the Small Island States Leaders Meeting in Koror, President Whipps thanked outgoing Chair Kiribati President Taneti Maamau for his leadership over the past year and said Palau was honoured to host the meeting and the wider 55th Pacific Islands Forum this week.
“It is a deep honour for the people and Government of Palau to be able to host this engagement, as well as the broader 55th Pacific Islands Forum this week,” Whipps said.
He paid tribute to Maamau and the Government of Kiribati for their stewardship of the Small Island States and the work undertaken over the past year.
“May I offer my deep appreciation to President Maamau and the Government of Kiribati for their stewardship of the Small Island States over the past year and for guiding the work that is now before us,” Whipps said.
Whipps said Palau’s theme for the Forum — BELAU: Building Economies, Livelihoods, Action and Unity — reflected the need to ensure economic growth translated into real benefits for Pacific people.
“Building stronger economies is not an end in itself.
“It must elevate the livelihoods of our people, create tangible, sustainable opportunities for our economies and unite us in ongoing efforts to deepen regionalism through integration,” he said.
He said it was significant that the Small Island States Leaders Meeting was the first leaders’ meeting to take place during Forum week.
“The clarity and unity that we establish will ensure a stronger SIS voice in the wider Forum deliberations this week,” Whipps said.
The incoming SIS Chair said leaders must judge their decisions by the results they deliver rather than simply by the agreements and statements they produce.
“The value of our decisions will be measured not only by the language we agree to, but by the tangible outcomes that they generate for our people,” Whipps said.
He said this was how the Small Island States could give practical meaning to the Forum’s theme of livelihoods, action and unity.
Whipps thanked senior officials who had worked throughout the year to prepare proposals for leaders’ consideration and said the responsibility now rested with leaders.
“The onus is on us now to consider how best we can position ourselves to ensure that we are able to advance these matters in a constructive and positive manner,” he said.
Calling for focused discussions, Whipps urged fellow leaders to be direct in their deliberations.
“I encourage us to be concise and candid in our reflections today,” he said.
Palau’s assumption of the SIS chairmanship comes as the country hosts the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, where Small Island States will seek to strengthen their collective position on key regional and international issues.
