Secretary General

The five northern Pacific states, Palau, Nauru, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia, vowed early last year to pull out of the organisation.

They were angry their nominee for secretary general, Marshall Islands diplomat Gerald Zackios, had been overlooked in favour of Cook Islands Prime Minister Puna.

The spokesman for the FSM government said the Micronesian states have been given an undertaking by both New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne that Mr Puna is to step down by June.

Its main focus on preparing and sending Team PNG to attend the Pacific Mini Games in Saipan, Northern Marianas, and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom, set to take place in June and July respectively.

In welcoming 2022, Secretary General of the PNGOC, Auvita Rapilla, urged the Secretariat during a Goal Setting Workshop to set precise achievable goals with clear workable plans aligned with PNGOC’s goals and objectives.

Secretary General Dame Meg Taylor addressed journalists at a pre-forum media workshop hosted by the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA).  

She emphasised the importance of this year’s theme for the 49th Pacific Islands Forum hosted in Nauru - Building a strong Pacific: “Our People – Our Islands – Our Will”.  

Dame Taylor says it’s a call for the region to realise its significance in the world, being the largest ocean state.