A Solomon Islands MP Alfred Sasako, says Pacific Islands Forum leaders need to focus on setting up a Debt Relief Commission to reduce debt in the region.
He says the extent of debt in African nations only came to the attention of the G8 group because of collective campaigning, and Pacific countries should do the same.
Mr Sasako says many regional problems are debt-related, and collective efforts could have the debts wiped.
He says seven years ago as a cabinet minister, he saw to it that the country's debt was cancelled.
"Its a matter of how you put the argument to the people there. I remember I put a similar argument to the British government, and as a result, they listened with a sympathetic ear and cancelled our debt for 26.6 million dollars."
Alfred Sasako.
