Secretary General, Henry Puna said this time last year, he was penning his first Christmas message via this newsletter, as the world reopened borders to global travel in the wake of the disruption caused by COVID-19.
“That was then. “Now we are looking at an unprecedented global surge in travel for the festive period, as many families reconnect face-to-face for the first time since 2019,” Puna said in a statement.
As we look forward to a season of peace and goodwill to all, I know there will be heartfelt reflections on the milestones of the last 12 months.
“Certainly for the Forum family, it has been a time of reunion, reaffirmation, and reconnection across the Blue Pacific.
We’ve continued to make the most of technology to connect online and to work smarter in the digital space, even as we welcomed the power and empathy of renewing face-to-face contact for our Forum Leaders.
As we closed off on the 50th anniversary year of the Pacific Islands Forum, and Fiji hosted a successful 51st Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, we also embraced our common future.
The ‘North Star’ journey of our Blue Pacific 2050 Strategy has reinvigorated regionalism and the unity of our Blue Pacific Continent, and it sets the priorities and shared solutions to ensure a region where all our people are able to enjoy free, safe and peaceful lives.
We still have much to do, and I continue to be heartened by the values of regional solidarity and collective strength from our sovereign nations and territories of the Forum membership.
Through resilience, innovation, and our common vision to do the best for our people, we are able to inspire other regions of the United Nations family with leadership that puts our planet, climate, oceans and people first.
On behalf of the Forum Secretariat family, may I wish the best of this season, 2023 and beyond, to you all. May our region of Peace continue to be so – not just in spirit, word and aspiration, but in actions that leave a lasting impact, influence, and legacy.
