BY LORETTA B MANELE
Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders have realised that it is a new season of regionalism, says Esala Nayasi, Deputy Secretary General for PIF.
He expressed the sentiment when speaking at the first of a three-day PIF Workshop for regional and local media representatives on Friday, September 5, 2025 at the Forum Media Centre.
Nayasi pointed out that in journeys, a season plays a very important part as we, the Pacific family voyage and navigate our waters and seas.
“So, they have realised in their wisdom that it is a season for us to reflect, a season for us to renew our relationships, and a season for us to set a new direction for the region,” he stressed.
Nayasi added that as part of that reflection, PIF leaders have decided that as a region, we need a new strategic direction for what they now call the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
He also stated that leaders have also come to realize in making decisions as a region to fully implement and be effective in achieving goals that are set in the 2050 Strategy.
The PIF Deputy Secretary General mentioned that in regards to this, PIF members need to re-look and see and assess what systems we have.
“Original systems that we have to be able to effectively meet the challenges of our time and obviously achieve the goals and aspirations, the vision of our leaders and the aspirations of our people,” he said.
Nayasi explained that the 21050 Strategy was formulated back then and it took some time from 2019 to 2022, given the COVID phase for it to be finalised.
He said this 2050 Strategy is what we now call the “North Star”.
Nayasi went on to state that it is important as we look back and understand that the wisdom of our leaders need a direction which we can follow hence the “North Star”.
He emphasised that they need that North Star to align all our voyages, all our canoes pointing out Fiji’s Uto Ni Yalo and Solomon Islands’ Tepuke as an example.
“They need a North Star that will guide everyone. And it speaks to our values, it speaks to our principles, and it’s grounded in traditional knowledge and it’s grounded in our cultures.
Because despite our differences, we are one people and we have shared and common values which binds us together,” Nayasi said.
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