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MSG Day 2025: Empowering Melanesia

By Ana Tudrau-Tamani

The Melanesian Spearhead
Group (MSG) has come a long
way from its humble inception as
a minute pressure group within
the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) to a
bloc within Melanesia, representing
the largest economies and natural
resource ownership, coupled with
an established Secretariat, turning
37 this year on March 14th.
Its name, ‘MSG’, was coined
when the Leaders met in Goroka,
Papua New Guinea, in 1986,
six years after the first informal
meeting in the Prime Minister’s
(PM) Office in Honiara in 1980,
From L-R: Chinese Ambassador to Vanuatu H.E. Ambassador Li Minggang; Former President of Vanuatu Kalkot
soon after the Santo rebellion. The
Mataskelekele; Vanuatu’s Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Marc Ati; Prime Minister of Vanuatu Hon. Jotham Napat; Wife
meeting was attended by the PM
of Vanuatu’s first PM Lady Mary Lini; Acting DG of the MSG Secretariat Ilan Kiloe; and Australian High Commissioner
of Papua New Guinea, the late Sir
H.E. Max Willis during the cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate MSG’s 37th anniversary.
Julius Chan; the PM of Solomon
Islands, the late Sir Peter Kenilorea;
and the PM of Vanuatu, the late Father Walter Lini. the only successful free trade agreement among the members of
The MSG has a comparative advantage over other countries a sub-region in the entire Pacific. This will soon be succeeded by a
within the Blue Pacific, as collectively it constitutes the largest Melanesian Free Trade Agreement (MFTA) that includes the services
population (86%), land mass (98%), GDP (91%), almost half of the sector, allowing for Skills Movement, sharing of educational services,
EEZ, and approximately 90% of the natural resources in the PIF area. and cross-border investments, among others.
Hence, there is a corresponding responsibility to be at the forefront Acting Director General (ADG) of the MSG Secretariat, Ilan
of regional cooperative and collective actions, seeking to better Kiloe, said the occasion is a day to celebrate the vision set forth
serve and respond to the needs of our people, as mandated by the by the founding fathers of Melanesia, who recognised that despite
Leaders. diverse cultures, traditions, and languages, it is possible to unite
In the words of the MSG Chair and Prime Minister of Vanuatu, for a common destiny, ignited by the passion to safeguard, protect,
Honourable Jotham Napat, “Today marks yet another chapter in our empower, and serve the people of Melanesia.
common history where we gather to celebrate the successes, remind “With the fitting theme of MSG Day this year, which is ‘Empowering
ourselves of the ongoing challenges, and accept responsibility for Melanesia,’ we at the Secretariat continue to firmly believe in our
the things we could have done better in the pursuit of our goals Leaders’ vision, as encapsulated in the ‘Six Agreed Principles of
and vision, as contained in the Principles of Cooperation Amongst Cooperation.’”
Independent Melanesian States and the Agreement Establishing the He noted that, currently without a permanent office due to the
MSG, signed in 1988.” earthquake damage, the Secretariat staff have been quietly working
MSG Day 2025 was commemorated with a celebration officiated from various locations, including the MSG official residence at
by the Hon. Napat at the Warwick Le Lagon in Port Vila, Vanuatu— Bellevue and the ‘Nasara’ next to the MSG office.
home of the MSG Secretariat. “This predicament,” he said, “presents a perfect time to show our
In his keynote address, Chief Guest Hon. Napat said that the MSG spirit of Melanesian resilience that has carried MSG over the years
has proven many skeptics wrong by demonstrating Melanesia’s and rise to the challenge to make a difference.”
place in regional and global affairs through the wisdom and decisions ADG Kiloe also announced the concept of the ‘Haos blong
of our Leaders. Melanesia’, which is currently being worked on by the Secretariat
Under Vanuatu’s Chairmanship, the MSG has achieved significant and will be the new home of the MSG Secretariat—the embodiment
milestones, including the overwhelming adoption of the UN of the MSG Vision.
Resolution seeking the ICJ Advisory Opinion on the Responsibility of “We look forward to combining efforts with the Membership
States with respect to climate change. Following this, submissions and the Host Government on its reconstruction, and if successful,
have been made to the ICJ by MSG member countries; the MSG joint it is envisaged that similar projects could also be implemented
submission with Vanuatu at the ICJ set the scene for other Pacific in strategic locations, including in member states where land is
MSG submissions; the institution of the long-outstanding Father accorded by member governments,” he added.
Lini Scholarship; the implementation of the overdue MSG Leaders With key challenges continuing to plague our region and Blue
mandate to fly the MSG flag in all member capitals and diplomatic Pacific, the need for a concerted effort is now even more imperative.
missions; trademark registration of the MSG logo; and the revival of We must ensure that the MSG not only remains a strong bloc but
the MSG PMs Cup, among many others. also continues to be relevant in advancing national and collective
Indeed, the original idea of establishing the MSG was to help regional interests for the betterment of our future.
advocate for the emancipation of the Kanaks in New Caledonia from
colonialism, and work continues to progress in this crucial area. Mrs. Tamani is in charge of Media & Communications at the MSG
Another highlight is the fact that the MSG Trade Agreement is Secretariat.