Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has told Pacific journalists they are central to shaping regional unity and making Forum decisions meaningful for ordinary people.
Opening the Regional Media Workshop in Honiara Friday, ahead of the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting, Manele said: “It is my honour to welcome our Pacific media to Honiara for this Regional Media Workshop. I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) for their partnership in making this workshop possible. Your commitment to supporting media across the Pacific strengthens our regionalism and ensures that the voices of our people are heard.”
He said Solomon Islands was proud to host the Forum for the third time, after 1979 and 1992, as a reflection of its commitment to Pacific solidarity.
“The theme of this year’s Forum, Iumi Tugeda: Act Now for an Integrated Blue Pacific Continent, is both a reflection of who we are and a call to where we must go. Iumi Tugeda — We are together. These words speak directly to our identity as Pacific peoples,” Manele said.
The Prime Minister urged reporters to connect Forum debates to people’s daily lives.
“The Forum will debate strategies and frameworks, but our people will ask: ‘What does this mean for me? For my family? For my community?’ It is through your work that those answers will be found,” he said. “You will tell the stories and make these regional decisions meaningful for everyday Pacific Islanders.”
Manele also acknowledged the challenges faced by Pacific newsrooms but stressed their importance in building trust and regional understanding.
“I know your work is not easy. Many of you operate with limited resources, in small newsrooms, often with little support. Yet you continue to inform our communities, connect people to important discussions, and help ensure that the decisions of our leaders are understood and acted upon. For that, I sincerely thank you,” he said.
He said the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent would only succeed if it was turned into tangible outcomes that improved people’s lives.
“Success will not be measured by communiqués alone. It will be measured by the trust of our people and the real changes they can see and feel in their daily lives,” Manele said.
The Prime Minister described the regional journey as a shared voyage.
“The canoe of the Blue Pacific has already set sail. The waters may be made uncertain by rising seas, global shifts, and economic pressures but we are not powerless. If we paddle together, guided by our shared values and united in purpose, we will reach our destination.”
He urged media participants to strengthen networks, share experiences and lift up Pacific voices ahead of next week’s Forum Leaders’ Meeting.
Source: Pacnews
