Tonga's Prime Minister opens Pacific Community Polynesia Regional Office in Nuku’alofa

PRO serves as a hub to enhance support for the people and communities in the SPC Polynesian Member Countries, focusing on strengthening cooperation with members and partners across Polynesia.

Hon Hu’akavameiliku in his keynote address said, Tonga joined SPC in 1983 and the opening of the new office is a milestone and a wonderful way to celebrate Tonga’s 40th anniversary in the organisation.

“This is an achievement for our government and for our Polynesian members in the Pacific. Polynesia is the largest sub-region in terms of countries within SPC. This is also the most complex sub region considering the regions diverse political structures. This demands support through a dedicated regional office like this new office.”

“The presence of SPC on the ground means that we will have direct access to services and programs offered to Polynesian member countries of SPC.

For Tonga in particular, this will help increase focus on some of our key priorities, requiring the support of SPC and other regional partners. More importantly, it will ensure that we in Polynesia receive the same attention in terms of program and services offered elsewhere.

“The opening framework for the Polynesia Office which outlines how the office will deliver for Polynesian members will be key to that. There must be a balanced approach to coverage and reach across all of our Polynesian members.”

He said, the country has a strong role in the Pacific and enjoys strong regional cooperation because Tonga believes all Pacific people’s lives deserve well-being through access to science, technology and knowledge.”

“As a member of SPC and a member of many regional organization, our government continues to explore opportunities for our people. We believe we can maximise opportunities for using the capabilities of these organisation to advance our Sustainable Development Goals and aspirations.”

He extended the Government of Tonga’s appreciation to the leadership of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Polynesian Working Group and Polynesian member countries of SPC for allowing Tonga to host SPC’s PRO and the Director General of SPC his leadership and initiative to set up the office in Tonga

Director General of SPC Dr Suart Minchin said, the absence of a Polynesia Regional Office was “very noticeable” when he started in the organisation in 2020.

“After some internal consultations and deliberations, the work on exploring the possibility of creating the office began about eight months into my role as Director General during Covid, recognising that the establishment of a Polynesia Regional Office will bring some balance in our services and engagement across the region.”

“Our journey therefore on the establishment of the Polynesia Regional Office started in September 2020 and was officiated by our governing body CRGA at its 50th meeting in November 2020 where they mandated the Secretariat to explore the feasibility of establishing a Pacific Community Polynesia Regional Office.

“To ensure ownership by our members of this undertaking, a Polynesian Working Group was established in January 2021 to take the work forward alongside the secretariat.

The working group was chaired by the Cook Islands and supported by French Polynesia as Vice Chair and members included American Samoa, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, Wallis and Futuna.”

Guided by the advice of the Polynesian Working Group, Dr Minchin said SPC’s Polynesian members met in August 2021 and unanimously agreed that the establishment of a PRO was timely.

“Subsequently, at the 51st meeting of CRGA, the creation of the Polynesian Regional Office was endorsed and a call for expressions of interest and a bidding process saw Tonga as the preferred host for the Polynesian Regional Office.”

He said the decision was endorsed by members at the 52nd CRGA meeting and part of the endorsement included a timeline to set up the office in September 2023 but at the request of Hon Hu’akavameiliku the office set up was brought forward five months earlier.

Dr Minchin stated, he is confident that the Polynesia Regional Office is now ready to deliver for members.

“The opening of the Polynesian Regional Office is the start of a new chapter for SPC and its Polynesian members as it navigates this new entity and what it means both for us, the Secretariat and for the Polynesian countries.”

The Regional Director for the new SPC PRO is Ms Leituala Kuiniselani Toelupe Tago.

The programme was attended by Ministers of Cabinet, members of the diplomatic corps and guests.