MSG Summit in first quarter 2011

The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Summit that was supposed to be held in Fiji last year will now be held in the first quarter of this year.

The decision was made by cabinet today following the formal handing over of the MSG chairmanship to Fiji during a special summit last month.

Cabinet based its decision on a submission by the Prime Minister in his capacity as the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The MSG meeting which will be chaired by Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama will see the leaders from Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and the Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation from New Caledonia coming to the country.

The reconciliation ceremony was held last month in the Solomon Islands after former Vanuatu Prime Minister Edward Natapei refused to hand over the chairmanship to Commodore Bainimarama.

Commodore Bainimarama said Fiji would take the chairmanship role very seriously to ensure that its brothers and sisters in Melanesia will be acknowledged and treated with respect in the region and beyond.


Story by: Vijay Narayan