BY JOY OFASIA
His Excellency Wesley Simina, President of the Federated States of Micronesia, delivered his final remarks as outgoing Chair of the Smaller Island States (SIS) Leaders Meeting held at the Forum Fisheries Agency conference room in Honiara.
“It has been an honour for the Federated States of Micronesia to serve as Chair of the Smaller Island States grouping over the last year,” President Simina began.
He highlighted the collaborative progress made during FSM’s chairmanship, noting that SIS officials had identified and streamlined four key priority areas to guide their collective efforts:
- Reliable air and sea transport
- Fisheries development
- Regional procurement and health workforce mechanisms
- Access to climate finance
“These are not abstract issues — they are the realities that we contend with on a daily basis,” he said.
President Simina stressed that, while small in number, the Smaller Island States are central to the Pacific story.
“SIS embody the challenges we experience as a region — the stark reality of climate change, the challenges of connectivity, and the tests of economic viability,” he stated.
Drawing on FSM’s own unique geography — a vast ocean territory with scattered islands — he noted the high costs of remoteness, weak connectivity, and increased vulnerability to climate events.
“Our remoteness and vulnerability are not signs of weakness, but enduring reminders of why the SIS must continue to stand together,” Simina said. “The measure of Pacific solidarity lies not in averages, but in our ability to elevate the most vulnerable among us.”
Referencing the theme of the upcoming 54th Pacific Islands Forum — “Iumi Tugeda: Act Now for An Integrated Blue Pacific Continent” — President Simina said the words ring especially true for the SIS.
“For us, ‘acting now’ should not be a mere slogan but an imperative of survival,” he urged. “Integration means a regional system that does not leave anyone behind.”
Looking ahead, Simina said the focus must now turn to consolidating the SIS Development Fund, ensuring the grouping’s priorities are not only heard but financed.
“We must continue to demand that regional and international partnerships recognise our realities — small in scale, but vast in ocean, culture, and resilience,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Simina thanked fellow leaders for their solidarity and reaffirmed his belief in shared leadership.
“Leadership in our Blue Pacific is shared — and it is through this collective approach that SIS will continue to transform vulnerabilities into opportunities for our peoples,” he said.
In accordance with established practice, President Simina formally nominated President Taneti Maamau of Kiribati to assume the SIS Chair for 2025.
