PRIME Minister Hon. Jeremiah Manele (MP) has officially welcomed Pacific media representatives to Honiara at the opening of the Regional Media Workshop, convened by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) in partnership with the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) and the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI).
The workshop is being held in the lead-up to the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting next week.
In his keynote address, Prime Minister Manele extended his gratitude to PIFS and PINA, commending their commitment to strengthening Pacific regionalism through media support.
“Hosting the Forum for the third time, after 1979 and 1992, reflects our commitment to Pacific solidarity and to the values of unity and cooperation that lie at the heart of the Pacific Way,” Prime Minister Manele said.
This year’s Forum theme, “Iumi Tugeda: Act Now for an Integrated Blue Pacific Continent,” was described by the Prime Minister as both a reflection of Pacific identity and a call to urgent action.
“Iumi Tugeda – ‘We are together’ – speaks to our identity as Pacific peoples. Act Now – our challenges demand urgent actions. An Integrated Blue Pacific Continent – this is our shared vision of a peaceful, resilient, and future-ready Pacific,” he said.
The Prime Minister emphasised the role of the media as more than observers, but as “participants and partners” in translating regional decisions into meaningful stories for Pacific communities.
“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.
Prime Minister Manele also acknowledged the difficult working conditions of many Pacific journalists, often in under-resourced newsrooms, and thanked them for their dedication to informing, connecting, and empowering communities.
He urged the media to foster trust by reporting with balance and ethics, particularly as the region implements the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
“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,” he said.
Closing his remarks, the Prime Minister likened the Pacific journey to a canoe navigating uncertain waters:
“The canoe of the Blue Pacific has already set sail. The waters may be uncertain, but if we paddle together, guided by our shared values and united in purpose, we will reach our destination.”
The Regional Media Workshop runs ahead of the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, where media representatives will play a key role in ensuring regional decisions are communicated meaningfully to Pacific people.
– OPMC PRESS SECRETARIAT
