NEWS AND VIEWS

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The outgoing Chairman, Mr. Michael Walsh, with the Secretary, Canon Rex Davis, at AGM 2008

 
Dr Fereti Dewa with the Chairman, Mr Michael Walsh  at AGM 2004   (click on image to go to
Dr Dewa's address)

Welcome  to you all – I am glad to see that the numbers attending today have increased from last year, which was itself an increase from 2006.

I should like to extend an especial welcome to our visitors and guest, who today include:

• HE Mrs Jean Kekedo, the High Commissioner for PapuaNew Guinea, who will be giving our Keynote Address.   Jean is the dean of the Pacific High Commissioners, and has over many years been active on behalf not only of Papua New Guinea but also other regional countries, for example through her work representing the region on the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Secretariat.  Despite her incredibly busy life (she is PNG’s High Commissioner and Ambassador to an impressive number of other countries, as well as the UK) she has always found time to attend PISUKI Events and we are delighted that she has agreed to address us later on today.
• HE Mr Pio Bosco Tikoisuva, the new High Commissioner from Fiji, Mrs Tikoisuva , and colleagues from the Fiji High Commission
• Mr Ian Felton from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• Benny Wenda and colleagues from the Free West Papua movement in the UK

The High Commissioner from Tonga unfortunately has to be abroad this weekend, but has sent his apologies.  On your behalf, I should also like to congratulate him on his election (two days ago) as the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Commonwealth Secretariat – the first time that either our region, or a small state, has held this office.   Vanuatu and Samoa were also elected to the Executive Committee, which will ensure that we have a strong voice in Commonwealth Councils over the coming two years.

I should also like to take this opportunity publicly to congratulate our Vice-Chairman on his appointment as a Canon of Honiara Cathedral.

A special welcome to Edith Blake, who retired as PISUKI’s Treasurer last year.  The Council decided to offer Life Membership of the Society to Edith, which I am delighted to say that she has accepted.

In our region, in addition to the natural disasters and political upsets which have pre-occupied us for each year, at any rate during the period in which I have had the privilege of being your Chairman, we now must worry about the impact of rising fuel and food prices.

This year it was PNG’s particular misfortune with heavy damage late last year from Cyclone Guba, in Oro and Milne Bay Provinces – there was little mention of the Cyclone in the UK press, as it coincided with floods in Bangladesh.  The Council made a donation to PNG Church Partnership for the Cyclone Guba Appeal, in addition following an initiative from Roger Barltrop, the Cyclone Appeal was one of the good causes supported in this year’s Commonwealth Service in Westminster Abbey.

Politically, we have seen elections in PNG and in Kiribati, where Beretitenti Anote Tong was returned with a large majority for his second term.  One of the first actions of the new administration was the extension of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, which preserves some of the last pristine coral reefs in the world.  PIPA is now the world’s largest declared marine protected area; this important action serves as both a protection for Kiribati’s fisheries as well as an important mitigation force against the impacts of global warming. 

We are also starting to see the positive impact of the new Government in Australia.  They were quick to announce a new engagement with our Pacific Island neighbours.

Mr Bob McMullan MP, Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance said in March this year:

“This is our region.

We have a shared interest in the prosperity, growth and stability of the Pacific.

We have the capacity to assist.

We have a responsibility to do so.

We have positive progress on which to build as well as some challenges to meet.

Australia recognises that Pacific Island countries do confront special challenges in meeting their development aspirations.

We seek to forge new partnerships with Pacific Island countries to address these challenges together and to build on the progress made so far, to achieve better results for the people of the Pacific.”

The US Government also labelled 2007 “The Year of the Pacific” and has developed a “whole of government” approach with the Department of Defence, Coast Guard, Department of the Interior, USTR, Peace Corps and other agencies to expand the US presence and activities in the region and build “people-to-people” contacts through exchanges such as the International Visitor Leadership Program, U.S. Speaker program, and other initiatives.

In addition to the continuing support of New Zealand, Japan, and both flavours of China (although not of course in the same place at the same time!), I have become aware of interesting new donors over the past year, for example Turkey and Cuba.

From the UK, I would draw your attention to the ‘Better World, Better Britain’ document that was attached to the AGM, including sponsorship of the Pacific Future Environment Leaders Forum; to the continued attendance of the UK at the Post Forum Dialogue; and the visit of MPs led by Michael Howard, which was reported in the Outrigger that you received this month.  We have two Chevening Scholars from the region this year, one each from Fiji and PNG.

Again, as part of my valedictory address as Chairman, I should like to thank Tom Hughes personally and on your behalf, for his outstanding editorship of the Outrigger over not only my 6 years, but since 1981.

As always, there have been a number of deaths and retirements of prominent people in 2007, including that of the Archbishop of Melanesia who had served 27 years as a bishop, and the Archbishop of PNG. 

More recently, we have had the retirement of the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Don McKinnon, who was our Keynote Speaker six years ago as a new appointee.  I am glad to say that Pacific Groups – in the persona of the KTA Troupe and also the Beats of Polynesia were star performers at Comcelebrate, one of the retirement parties for him.  Indeed on the basis of this performance the KTA have been asked if they are willing to perform at the opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago next year.   The Society now participates in the Council of Commonwealth Societies which inter alia plans the annual service in Westminster Abbey; the Maoris performed at this year’s commemoration.

I also record the death of Sir Ian Thompson; he was a greatly respected figure in the Pacific, and lately a PISUKI supporter in Edinburgh. 

Against that background, I should now like to turn to a review of the Society’s activities in 2007.  After the many events of the 2006 Jubilee Year, which had more than the usual number of events, it was relatively quiet.  However, since last year’s AGM, we have had a number of social and cultural events, especially the extremely successful Social Evening here at NZ House in early November, at which both the Beats of Polynesia, and the Tuvalu community, provided entertainment.  I give special thanks to Tom Hughes, Norman Shackley and Margaret Taylor for organising this event - which we intend to repeat this year.

We also had an outstanding address from Mr Bill Morrell in June, a ‘Refection on the Solomon Islands Conflict and its Aftermath’

During 2007 there have been a series of events under the umbrella of Pasifika Styles in Cambridge, which closed with an excellent address by Agnes Henson-Derby.  Agnes sends her apologies for today – she and the KTA Dance troupe are conducting a performance and workshop for schools in Chesham, in Buckinghamshire, the date for which was fixed before that of the AGM.

Mrs Rehuher of the Balau National Museum spent time in Britain, facilitated in part by our Vice Chairman, to whom she sent a letter of appreciation mentioning especially Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and the joint British Museum / PISUKI event where she spoke about the Belau National Museum. 

The British Museum also held a public meeting on the ‘British Museum in Melanesia’ in April this year, with Liz Bonshak and Julie Adams as the speakers.

This is a point at which I should like to thank the British Museum, and Ben Burt in particular, for their support to us not only in hosting events, but also providing space for the meetings of the Council throughout the period of my Chairmanship.

Regionally, the SW regional lunch took place as it does with great success every year.

Partly because of the relatively few events (and the absence of a full Outrigger publication), we have been able to record a surplus this year, and when we come to the Treasurer’s report in a few minutes,  you will see that we are in a healthy position and have fully recovered the loss made in 2006.

Our membership as always could do with increase; and I commend the continuing efforts of Vernon Scarborough as our Publicity Officer, and Christian Clerk in developing our Website.

We have produced an updated version of the Society’s Constitution, incorporating the changes agreed at the 2006 and 2007 AGMs.  This is available on the Website, and will be sent to any member who wishes.

It has been wonderful to have a full set, as it were, of people on the Council and the ‘new blood’: our Secretary, Rex Davis; our Treasurer John Wilson (who cannot be here today, as he is in the Pacific), and our Membership Secretary Dorothy Prince (also unable to be here); and Margaret Taylor, who has been working especially with Tom.

Thanks also to Euan Kennedy who has from this year on very kindly agreed to become the Independent Examiner of the Society’s Accounts.

The ‘old blood’ are of course equally to be thanked.  I think I have just about mentioned all of their special contributions before, although I realise that I have not yet included Chris Luxton, who I shall be proposing as my successor as Chair when we come to elections; or Richard Jenkin from whose contributions the Council always benefits.

I should like to thank all of you as I step down as Chairman, for your giving me the honour of presiding over the last 6 years; for your forbearance at my manifold inefficiencies, and for your support.

Michael Walsh

Chairman