Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Pacific Island Forum Plenary session was held last week Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, at the National Auditorium, Rarotonga. The session brought together leaders from across the Pacific region of member, associated member, and forum observer status. Amongst government officials were private sectors and subject matter experts.

American Samoa’s current status in the Pacific Island Forum is as Observers, reflecting their role as active participants in regional forums but are limited to in-meeting dialogue and decision-making processes.

Governor Lemanu P. S. Mauga is working to elevate American Samoa's status in the Pacific Island Forum (PIF), with the goal to give the territory a voice on issues that have a direct impact on its people, who identify strongly as Pacific islanders.

Among issues discussed, to name a few, are as follows:

•   2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent
•   Climate Change & Resilience
•   Revitalization of the Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration
•   Fisheries Priorities
•   Economic Development

The chair of the meeting, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown welcomed members of the Forum, associate members, as well as Forum observers. Mr. Brown stated the importance of this meeting as it “allows us a time and space as political leaders to have deeper discussions on other urgent issues”.

PIF Secretary General, Mr. Henry Puna from Ratotonga, emphasized: “the importance of ensuring that each of you [the delegates] as foreign leaders have the time and the space to engage in and amongst yourselves on issues of critical importance to our collective aspirations and development as a forum.”

The media was ushered out of the meeting before other business took place.