Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele, has defended his government's decision to break regional consensus by nominating its own candidates to regional and international offices.
Samoa has opted to nominate its own candidate for the ACP secretary general position.
He is Doctor Pa'o Luteru, currently the ACP's deputy secretary general.
Other Forum countries are rallying behind Papua New Guinea's nominee, the former Foreign Minister, Sir John Kaputin.
Responding to a suggestion Samoa is going against the "Pacific Way" of consensus, Tuilaepa says the "Pacific Way" is undergoing a process of change to suit the needs of the time.
