BY SAMIE WAIKORI
Seventeen member countries of the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) have confirmed their attendance for the 54th Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM) in Honiara next week.
That figure with Solomon Islands as the chair of the 54th PIFLM brings the total number of attendees to 18.
Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the PIF meeting, Sir Dr Jimmie Rodgers confirmed this during a talkback show at SIBC on Monday this week.
He said all 17 forum island countries have confirmed their attendance for the 54th PIF Leaders Meeting that will be in Honiara from September 8-12.
He said the exception is Samoa, which has just had its elections on Friday last week.
Rodgers said they are still waiting for Samoa to confirm its participation.
He adds that the committee understands that the election results are not completed yet and a new government is yet to be formed.
He said the committee is anticipating feedback from Samoa early this week, as to whether they will send a political leader to the forum.
However, Rodgers said Samoa will attend and so all 18 forum member countries of PIF will be in Honiara for the forum.
In terms of preparation, he said the country is ready and looks forward to receive delegations around the region to Honiara, latest by this weekend ahead of the meeting next week.
Members of PIF are Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
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