Forum HQ, Suva, FIJI-- Pacific Islands Forum Leaders will meet at a special retreat Wednesday 3 February 2021.
The Leaders are expected to focus their attention on two main agenda items, namely the current COVID-19 situation, its impact on the region to date and access to safe and secure vaccines, and secondly, the appointment of the next Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum.
The successor to incumbent Secretary General Dame Meg Taylor was to have been appointed last year. This was delayed due to the global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nominations for the regional role were submitted by the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, the Cook Islands, the Kingdom of Tonga and Fiji.
The Secretary General also serves as the permanent CROP Chair, the Pacific Oceans Commissioner and the Regional Authorising Officer under the agreement with the European Union.
The candidates for the post are:
Hon. Henry Tuakeu Puna (Cook Islands).
Ratu Inoke Kubuabola (Fiji).
H.E. Gerald M Zackios, (Republic of the Marshall Islands).
Dr Jimmie Rodgers, (Solomon Islands).
‘Amelia Kinahoi Siamomua (Tonga).
----ENDS
(The above text includes minor revisions since original posting on Feb 2)
