When the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, H.E Henry Puna were in Apia last week as part of his in-country high-level consultations, he made time to meet with the Samoa Umbrella for Non-Governmental Organizations (SUNGO) and a number of its Member Organizations.
The Pacific Island Forum’s Delegation include Secretary General Henry Puna and Samoan
diplomat, His Excellency Aliioaiga Feturi Elisaia and Ms Nikola Komailevuka who is the Pacific Regionalism
Adviser and also the Executive Coordination Officer.
The main reason behind the meeting was to hear t civil society organizations’ views on regional issues, as well as seeking the involvement of Civil Society Organizations in Forum processes. He was keen to see CSOs involved.
The S.G talked about current political developments in the region, nuclear development in the Pacific, the Blue Continent Concept, and the need for regional cooperation.
The Members raised a number of issues including the impact of the RSE Scheme on village
communities, the impact of subsidies, poverty eradication, food security, gender equality, digital transformation and more.
SUNGO and its members expressed how grateful they were for the opportunity to voice their
concerns directly to the Secretary General about impacts faced by communities within the Pacific.
