American Samoa is closely watching how the Pacific Islands Forum, the grouping of independent countries of the Pacific, will handle French Polynesia’s request for full membership to the Forum.
Lt. Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga is attending the annual meeting of the Forum in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.
Under the former administration, American Samoa was accorded observer status in the Pacific Forum.
Lemanu said his main focus at the Forum “is to ensure that the interests of American Samoa relative to fisheries issues are represented.”
And while “the other agenda items are just as important to American Samoa,” he also confirmed to following closely French Polynesia’s application for full Forum membership.
Lemanu said. “Should this privilege [Full Forum Membership] be extended to French Polynesia, given our similar political statuses, we would hope that American Samoa will be accorded the same privilege for full membership in the Forum.”
Other key issues that leaders will consider include implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), upholding human rights in West Papua, reducing the burden of cervical cancer, coordinating regional information and communications technology, trade integration, and a framework to support the rights of persons with disabilities.
