The Pacific Islands Forum has a new representative in Solomon Islands. He is Mr Sakiusa Rabuka from Fiji.
Mr Rabuka replaces Dr Lesi Korovavala who resigned from the position in October last year."The experience Mr Rabuka brings with him will be an asset to the organisation and will contribute to enhancing and strengthening ongoing work between the Forum and the Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI," says Tuiloma Neroni Slade, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
Mr Slade explains: "As Forum Representative to the Solomon Islands, Mr Rabuka's responsibilities will include liaising on the implementation of the goals and objectives of RAMSI and Leaders' Forum Ministerial Standing Committee and Enhanced Consultative Mechanism decisions and for providing advice on Forum decisions and CROP programmes and assistance. He will also be responsible for advising the Secretary General on developments in the Solomon Islands and assist in the implementation of the Pacific Plan."
Mr Rabuka comes to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat from the University of Fiji Law Campus in Suva where he has held the position of Senior Lecturer in Law since 2008. He has extensive work experience as a senior officer with the Fiji Government. Mr Rabuka also represented Fiji as a diplomat in New York.
He was Counselor/Deputy Permanent Representative of the Fiji Mission to the United Nations. He has attended and participated in various Forum meetings, in particular the Forum Regional Security Committee (FRSC), which gave him insight into the Forum's role in addressing the Solomon Islands' situation.
Mr Rabuka's appointment as Forum Representative in Solomon Islands is for three years.
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