Transcript
COLIN TUKUITONGA - Firstly we have our annual, CRGA (Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations) it is called, meeting of our board. Followed by the conference ( Conference of the Pacific Community) which is the ministers from the member nations. And on Friday we have a celebration in the afternoon mainly hosted by the New Caledonian government with cultural events. We have leaders here from the region we have the prime minister of Samoa speaking, president of the Federated States of Micronesia and some fun events. I have just launched the 70 inspiring women project where community groups have nominated 70 Pacific women from across the region who have done great things over the last several years. So yes a lot going on culminating in a celebration on Friday evening on the island night with the leaders here celebrating the achievements of the past 70 years and looking ahead.
KOROI HAWKINS - How would you wrap up that period probably in terms of the Pacific Community as it is called now the SPC's growth and development and changing responsibility or agenda for the region?
CT - Yes well I suppose if you look back I don't know if people are aware but the Pacific Arts Festival was initiated and in fact facilitated by SPC in the early days. It is now managed by an independent council but that event was initiated by SPC. Similarly the South Pacific Games was an SPC initiative. At the technical level we have been assessing tuna stock to assess how healthy the tuna population is in the region. The advice that we have is used by the FFA and other regional organisations and member states to manage that resource. SPC epidemiologists and scientists were the first to describe the emergence of diabetes and heart disease as a problem in the region in the '70s. We continue to offer different initiatives in support of our members. The seed bank in Suva was established in the mid '90s that offer saline resistant seeds and plantings of our staples like taro and kumara just to name a few of the big ones over the past 70 years.
KH - The thematic discussion or the theme of the week is "Innovative Partnerships for Sustainable Development". What does this involve and what will people be talking about?
CT - Yes partnerships of course are not new it is pretty much how we operate we work with like-minded organisations to achieve our objectives. What this is about and it has come from the government of New Caledonia primarily as the host this year, is looking at different ways of achieving, perhaps achieving our objectives more efficiently or more effectively. So there is a number of ideas concepts that are being that are part of the discussion to have with the ministers on Thursday and hopefully all going well they will endorse it. An example is we are planning to set up what is called the Pacific Ocean Science centre where not only SPC's scientists but others would contribute to a renewed energy around oceans in the scientific space. On aspect of that relates to a repository of genetic material from fish and sea life around the region. Something that hasn't been there before. So that is just one example. There are ideas around making available on a consistent basis. Seeds for small farmers and communities. Something we call seeds for life. There is a number of these types of partnerships that are being put up for discussion and out of that one or two or three of them would be supported by the members. One of a series of things that we would do looking ahead.
KH - Looking at the future for the Pacific Community, with the name change obviously from the secretariat of the Pacific Community that the Pacific Community there is obviously a changing role maybe that you are looking at for the future?
CT - We are staying pretty much in a scientific technical space because that is our advantage and track record. But looking to see what the emerging issues are for the region. Climate Change obviously is a big one NCD's childhood obesity how can we have greater impact on those and looking at other areas that are perhaps not as well developed so far. So not planning to drift too far away from our core purpose. But obviously looking to be more effective in what we do. One of the key challenges for us is, one I keep referring to is to rely less on uncertain project funding but to develop a sustainable financing regime for SPC so we are not being pushed around by availability of resources but we have a financing arrangement that allows us to operate in a planned and more effective way rather than simply reacting to what is around.
