Solomon Islands Speaker Hon. Patteson Oti Supports Regional Parliamentary Cooperation The Pacific Islands Parliamentary Group (PIPG) Working Committee met this week at the Assembly of French Polynesia in Papeete, Tahiti, to discuss the future structure and direction of the regional inter-parliamentary organization.
Hon. Patteson John Oti, Speaker of Parliament of the Solomon Islands, participated in the discussions, along with Mr. Wilson Orisi, Director of Parliamentary Committees. Their involvement highlights the Solomon Islands commitment to strengthening parliamentary collaboration and governance in the Pacific region.
The meeting brought together key parliamentary leaders, including:
Hon. Filimone Jitoko, Speaker of the Parliament of Fiji
Hon. Inia Seruiratu, Leader of the Opposition, Fiji
Hon. Antony Geros, Speaker of the Assembly of French Polynesia
Lord Fakafanua, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga
Senator Hon. Sebastian Marino, representing the Speaker of the Palau National Congress
These leaders form the core of the PIPG Working Committee, which aims to develop a strategic
plan for the organization. PIPG has played an important role in promoting parliamentary
diplomacy and regional cooperation since its establishment in 2013.
The main focus of the meeting was to design a formal governance structure for PIPG to ensure its effectiveness and sustainability.
Key topics included:
Defining PIPG’s long-term goals
Establishing a legal and governance framework
Strengthening internal management and finances
Securing sustainable funding and strategic partnerships
The committee also held discussions with major regional organizations, including the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP), Pacific Community
(SPC), and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). These discussions emphasized the importance of parliamentary cooperation in addressing key regional challenges such as climate change, sustainable development, and governance reforms.
Hon. Patteson Oti spoke to the UNDP about expanding its support for parliamentary development in the Pacific. He highlighted the UNDP’s contributions to capacity-building,
institutional strengthening, and governance reforms, which have benefited legislative bodies across the region.
Since its formation in 2013, the Pacific Islands Parliamentary Group (PIPG) has grown to include 18 parliamentary members from almost all Pacific Islands Forum nations. The initiative
to formally restructure PIPG gained momentum after the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General endorsed it in 2003, recognizing it as the main inter-parliamentary body for the Pacific. The Tahiti meeting included representatives from Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia, ensuring diverse regional perspectives in decision-making.
The final recommendations from the committee will be presented at the 5th PIPG Conference, scheduled to take place in Fiji from August 25–29, 2025. The participation of Speaker Hon. Patteson Oti and Director Mr. Wilson Orisi in this meeting highlights the Solomon Islands’ leadership in strengthening regional parliamentary cooperation. As the Pacific region faces major challenges, enhancing PIPG will be essential to ensuring strong, effective, and united parliamentary representation at both regional and international levels.
The Working Committee meeting in Tahiti represents an important step in creating a well-
structured, well-resourced, and influential inter-parliamentary organization for the Pacific. As preparations continue for the 5th PIPG Conference in Fiji, the next few months will be crucial in
shaping a stronger and more unified parliamentary voice for the Pacific Islands.
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-NPSI
