The MSG Chair, Prime Minister Sogavare stresses a point during his meeting
with Prime Minister Charlot Salwai of Vanuatu and the FLNKS Spokesperson,
Mr Victor Tutugoro in Port Vila

PRIME Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare arrived in the Fiji capital, Suva, on Wednesday for the second leg of his Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Capitals’ tour.

The MSG Chair’s meeting with the Fiji Prime Minister Hon Frank Bainimarama is scheduled for today, Friday January 20, 2017.

The Prime Minister is undertaking the tour in his capacity as the MSG Chair. The current tour is his second since assuming the chairmanship of the Melanesian sub-regional grouping in June 2015.

The first visit was made in early 2016.

The major issues of discussion by the MSG Chair with fellow MSG Leaders during the current tour are the restructuring of the MSG Secretariat based in Port Vila, Vanuatu and the revised MSG Membership Guidelines.

The MSG Secretariat restructure programme follows a consultancy report on the Independent Review of the Secretariat to ensure its alignment with the priorities of MSG Members and delivery of much needed services to MSG citizens.

Yesterday, the MSG Chair who also holds the Chairmanship of the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) will meet with the Secretary General of the PIDF, Mr Francois Martel, at the PIDF Headquarters in Suva.

The MSG Chair, Prime Minister Sogavare, centre, with the FLNKS Spokesperson, Mr Tutugoro, left, and Prime Minister Salwai of Vanuatu after their discussions

Meanwhile, the Port Moresby leg of the current MSG Capitals’ tour has been moved forward for next month (February) and therefore the MSG Chair and his delegation will return to Solomon Islands this Sunday January 22, 2017.

The MSG Chair will issue a statement on the outcome of his discussions with fellow MSG Leaders during this second round of MSG Capitals’ tour after completing the Port Moresby leg next month.

He said he had meaningful discussions with Prime Minister Charlot Salwai of Vanuatu and the FLNKS Spokesperson, Mr Victor Tutugoro during the Port Vila leg of his tour and looks forward for the same level of interaction with Prime Minister Bainimarama tommorow and Prime Minister Peter O’Neill of Papua New Guinea later in February.

–OPMC PRESS