The Solomon Islands parliamentary delegation, led by Speaker of Parliament Hon. Patteson John Oti, took part in the 5th Pacific Islands Parliamentary Group (PIPG) Conference held at the InterContinental Hotel in Natadola, Fiji last week.
The landmark event marked a turning point in Pacific regional cooperation with the formal transition of PIPG into the newly established Pacific Inter-Parliamentary Association (PIPA).
A New Era of Parliamentary Cooperation
The transformation from PIPG to PIPA represents a bold step toward uniting Pacific legislatures to confront shared challenges. Convened under the theme “Pacific Islands in a Changing Global Landscape: From Challenges to Parliamentary Action,” the 2025 conference highlighted the vulnerabilities of small island states while underscoring the role of parliaments in safeguarding sovereignty, fostering integration, and building resilience.
Since its inception, PIPG has served as a forum for political dialogue, peer learning, and solidarity. PIPA will now advance that legacy with a renewed mandate to strengthen democratic governance and legislative collaboration across the region.
Solomon Islands’ Enduring Commitment
Hon. Peter Kenilorea Jr., Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, reaffirmed the Solomon Islands’ full support for PIPA, announcing that the Government, Prime Minister, and parliamentary leadership had formally mandated Speaker Oti to sign the PIPA statutes.
The Solomon Islands delegation comprised:
- Hon. Patteson John Oti – Speaker of Parliament
- Mr. Jefferson Hallu – Clerk to Parliament
- Hon. Peter Kenilorea Jr. – Chairman, Foreign Relations Committee
- Hon. George Temahua – Chairman, Environment & Conservation Committee
- Hon. Mary Daniella Garu – MP for West Guadalcanal
- Mr. Wilson Orisi – Director of Committees & Secretary to PIPG Delegation
Speaker Oti also contributed to shaping PIPA’s institutional framework as one of five technical committee members who co-authored its foundational report.
Regional Voices and Perspectives
Key presentations at the conference included:
- Hon. Anote Tong, former President of Kiribati – on parliamentary oversight and sovereignty
- Ambassador Kaliopate Tavola – on leveraging ocean resources and cultural assets
- Dr. Tarcisius Kabutaulaka, University of Hawai‘i – on the potential of a regional parliament
- Dr. Manumatavai Tupou-Roosen – on embedding Pacific values in governance
- Sione Tekiteki, Auckland University of Technology – on parliamentary cooperation amid uncertainty
Looking Ahead
Delegates also visited the Nacocolevu Agriculture Station in Sigatoka, gaining insights into sustainable agricultural innovation.
The conference concluded with the signing of the PIPA statutes and the election of its inaugural Executive Board. Tahiti will host the first official PIPA meeting in 2026.
As the Pacific faces rising sea levels, shifting geopolitics, and economic disruption, the Solomon Islands Parliament reaffirmed its readiness to champion unity, resilience, and democratic progress across the region.
