‘Voices should be heard’

Members of the region’s media were told that their voices should be heard.

Speaking at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) media dialogue on Wednesday, PIF officer in charge Apaitia Veiogo said they wanted to hear more from the regional media.

“More from you on what your vision for Pacific media at 2050 holds for the region,” Mr Veiogo said.

“As the leaders in your field, with a long history of regional experience, you bring a distinct and necessary partnership to the table — one that our leaders identified in the early years of the Forum, as crucial to the mandate to communicate and serve the values of regionalism.

“On new opportunities and challenges for Pacific Media regionalism, and how you view your role in your response to the times we are in. I also note we are currently faced with fashioning a new MOU between PINA and the Forum.

“Today’s (Wednesday) dialogue will surely help progress discussions in that regard and I look forward to it.”

He said the region’s media were in unprecedented times.

“PINA, like the forum and all our regional organisations and our member nations have all come through the last three years with a great deal of resilience.

“And surely, with new ways of working smarter, better and more efficiently for our Pacific people.

“In that vein, I note the Q and A approach, the marker of your industry would be in full force today and am sure we will all benefit from the informal sharing and talanoa planned for this briefing,” Mr Veiogo said.

He said PIF would be ready to assist common areas of solidarity and strength for regionalism.

“We are grateful for your partnership and commitment to a strong and informed Blue Pacific region where our people are free, healthy and able to prosper.

“The 2050 Strategy is our North star to that vision, and together we can better achieve it for the communities whose interest we serve — the people of the Pacific,” he said.