Fiji is set to host the 5th Pacific Islands Parliamentary Group (PIPG) Conference next year. The announcement was made by the Speaker of Parliament, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, at the conclusion of the 4th PIPG Conference held in Koror, Palau.
Members of the PIPG warmly welcomed the news. A Working Group comprising representatives from French Polynesia, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Palau, and Fiji has been established to evaluate options proposed by the PIPG Secretariat concerning future cooperation among legislative branches in the Pacific.
This Working Group is scheduled to convene later this month and will subsequently consult with all PIPG members before reporting back for approval by the end of 2024, a decision that will be formalized during the upcoming conference in Fiji.
Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu noted that this year’s meeting was productive, addressing significant topics including economic security, food security, health security, gender-based violence, and drug issues in the region. He praised Fiji’s contributions and highlighted the sharing of best practices and legislative updates from Fiji and other Pacific island nations.
“We look forward to participating in the Parliamentary Working Group as part of this meeting’s resolution, focusing on the future of PIPG and its connections to the Pacific Islands Forum and other organizations as we advance this initiative,” Seruiratu stated.
Representatives from various parliaments attended this year’s meeting, including those from Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Hawaii, Niue, Palau, Rapa Nui, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Wallis and Futuna.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Ngibtal Declaration on ‘Human Security in the Pacific Islands’ was unanimously adopted. Fiji is eager to welcome participants for the next PIPG Conference, scheduled to take place from August 25 to August 29, 2025.