Welcome Remarks of Dr Stuart Minchin, SPC's Director-General’s
at the 53rd meeting of the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CRGA 53)
- Distinguished delegates,
- Current chair of CRGA – CEO Peseta Noumea Simi, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Samoa
- Incoming chair of CRGA 53 Permanent Secretary, your excellency Colin Beck
- Representative from our CROP agencies
- Senior officials
- Partners and observers
Warm greetings and Good morning to you all.
It is a great pleasure to have you all here in Noumea, New Caledonia with us for the 53rd Meeting of the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations to precede our 13th Conference.
These meetings are of the utmost importance as we here at SPC, your organisation, and I speak for each and every one of our staff when I say that we welcome your honest, robust commitment towards collective direction and action to some of our region’s most pressing issues.
This week we will focus on ensuring that your voice is paramount with displays of jointly owned and led work and practical solutions that will hopefully guide you as decision makers and unlock access to the information you need to make the decisions that you have to in a modern world.
Yesterday, we celebrated the signing of the new New Caledonia and SPC agreement which included a traditional protocol to request our gracious hosts of New Caledonia, the use of their land on which we are meeting today.
I thank those of you who were able to attend and look forward to strengthened and renewed engagement with you as our members going forward.
As we commence our proceedings, I would like to express our gratitude to the outgoing Chair of CRGA 52, Samoa, for their exemplary leadership and guidance during the previous CRGA of the Pacific Community.
I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Solomon Islands for assuming the Chairmanship for the 53rd CRGA of the Pacific Community, and I also acknowledge Tonga, who has assume the role of Vice-Chair. We appreciate your commitment and support. (Noting that Tokelau who was supposed to be vice-chair could not make it due to domestic commitment and had asked that the vice-chair role is passed to Tonga, who has accepted it.)
It is my pleasure to warmly welcome Mr. Collin Beck, of Solomon Islands, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, as the Chair of this 53rd Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations.
