Pacific development

In an open letter to the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the opposition leader Bill Shorten, the group, which includes doctors, nurses and teachers based in Solomon Islands, said Australia's reputation in the region had been damaged.

"The Australian government's treatment of asylum seekers on Manus Island is undermining our work and damaging Australia's reputation.

The 22nd Micronesian Islands Forum (MIF) concluded on May 2 with the signing of the communiqué outlining common issues that member nations need to address as a region.

The leaders also agreed to hold the 23rd MIF in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

Leaders also urged the activation of the MIF Secretariat which will focus its efforts on providing secretariat services to the MIF.