The Pacific Community (SPC) must remain responsive to its members’ priorities and accountable for its work as it approaches its 80th anniversary, Director-General Dr Paula Vivili says.
Opening the 56th Session of the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CRGA56) in Noumea, Dr Vivili said the organisation faced growing regional pressures, including climate risks, economic strains and increasing demands on essential services, alongside tighter funding.
“These exchanges reinforced the understanding that SPC is your organisation, and that our work must remain grounded in your needs and the realities facing your communities,” Dr Vivili said.
He said member guidance would be particularly important as SPC reviewed its priorities, resources and operations in a constrained funding environment.
CRGA56 provides members with an opportunity to assess the organisation’s progress and consider decisions needed to sustain effective delivery, he said.
“As we prepare to mark 80 years of SPC, we have an opportunity to honour the trust placed in this organisation and ensure it remains responsive, capable and accountable to its membership,” Dr Vivili said.
He said visits to most SPC members during his first year as Director-General had provided opportunities to hear directly from leaders about their priorities and discuss how the organisation could better support them.
Dr Vivili also welcomed the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) back to CRGA after many years.
CNMI joined SPC in 1983, the same year the organisation’s Conference was last held in the North Pacific. Dr Vivili said SPC welcomed its renewed engagement.
He acknowledged Tuvalu’s outgoing role as CRGA chair and Tonga’s hosting of last year’s CRGA and Conference meetings. Tonga has taken over the CRGA chair, with the United Kingdom serving as vice-chair.
Dr Vivili said SPC had made meeting papers available in English and French three weeks before the session, in line with its governance requirements. He thanked Secretariat staff for meeting the deadline.
The organisation was also continuing efforts to improve language access for its 27 member countries and territories.
Dr Vivili said SPC’s Tok Pasifika service now provided access to language services in more than 40 Pacific languages, with the Académie des langues kanak recently joining its provider network.
He said the initiative recognised that the region’s linguistic heritage extended well beyond SPC’s two official languages.
CRGA56 brings representatives together to review SPC’s work and provide guidance on its priorities as the organisation prepares for its 80th anniversary….
