Turning The Corner

Straight off I must admit that the secretariat and myself were somewhat apprehensive in the lead up to the meeting, as we were aware that there would be some central issues which needed strong support from our members in order for our environmental goals of cooperation and sustainable development to be met.

As it happened, we have been left feeling optimistic and encouraged by the outcomes and response from our members and government ministers.

Probably the most significant decision made is that of a fundamental change in the way SPREP does business. What this entails is a move away from a project-based orientation, to an approach built around a series of programmes. By their very nature projects are focused and generally short-term in their duration. Briefly, a programmatic approach allows our secretariat to develop stable more flexible and predictable plans and initiatives, that will be more effective in meeting what our members want from us. Our valued partners too, will find a clear framework to work from, be it through financial or in-kind assistance, or joint implementation. The secretariat already has in the pipeline a series of proposals on waste, conservation and climate change that were endorsed by the meeting. We look forward to making a rapid progress in getting these underway in 2004 when we begin the programmatic phase.

At the end of the day, I believe this system will allay any concerns held by our member countries and territories over the secretariat not being responsive enough to the needs of members.

Participants...at the 14th SPREP meeting and the Fourth Environment Ministers Forum in Apia

We were also given the greenlight to review the current Action Plan for 2001-2004 and formulate the next Action Plan for 2005-2009. The plan is put together by the secretariat as a result of wide consultations with member countries and territories. In effect, the plan is a blueprint of what each country perceives as its main environmental issues for the given timeframe, and how in conjunction with SPREP's help these can be resolved. Waste management has already been widely identified as one of these.

Almost every SPREP member is now facing an uphill task to combat waste be it sewage, hazardous or solid. Our reliance on imported goods shows no sign of relenting; as is the devastating impact that discarding these wastes is causing. The pressure on our small land masses increases the potential damage to people's health, and the obvious negative impacts on our economy such as in tourism, paints a gloomy picture.

Additional funds

The secretariat requested a 21 percent annual increase in our members' voluntary contributions in order to put SPREP on a sound financial footing and enhance our ability to produce the right results with as few limitations as possible.

These additional funds are going to go a long way to bolster our core services to our members, to assist in meeting the secretariat's overheads and staffing need.

Over the years, both staff and programmes have continued to expand, but member contributions have not kept pace.

Looking ahead, it is important that the region gives a credible account of itself in Mauritius during the 2004 review of the Barbados Plan of Action. As alluded to in last month's column, this is because of the significant influence any decisions reached there will have on all this planet's small islands developing states.

In order for the Pacific to respond confidently on the world stage, SPREP meetings have asked that all the national assessment reports be completed so a comprehensive regional report can be put together reflecting the real needs of the Pacific islands.

The fourth Environment Ministers Forum that followed the official meeting provided both national governments and the secretariat the chance to share their views and wisdom with us.

I would like to thank all the ministers, delegates and observers who took the time to attend and for providing the secretariat with your timely advice and direction.

I would also like to point out how much we value the participation of the CROP organisations donors and non-governmental organisations. I would like to pay special tribute to a man that has done so much for the region through his leadership of the South Pacific Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), Alfred Simpson, who attended his last SPREP meeting as SOPAC director. I wish to congratulate Alfred for all his achievements with SOPAC and wish him all the best.

It is clear from this SPREP meeting that there are still improvements that can be made inorder for this organisation to operate at an optimum level. I hope we can now move on from what has gone before, and turn the corner onto a path for a better future.

Asterio Takesy is the Director of the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme based in Apia, Samoa.