Leaders of Pacific Island nations confront new economic forces
By Jean Christensen/AP
As with the natural disasters to which they are vulnerable, Pacific Island nations can’t stop the tide of economic globalization from sweeping the region, leaders say.
“Globalization is here, and it’s universal, and it’s dangerous if we don’t prepare ourselves,” American Samoa Gov. Tauese Sunia said on Jan. 30 at the Sixth Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders. “We have to protect our ways. We have to protect our value systems.”
The two-day conference featured 22 heads of state and top officials from a vast swath of the Pacific extending from Papua New Guinea to the west, French Polynesia to the east, Hawaii to the north and Tonga to the south.
They discussed how best to adapt to globalization, and many held a dim view of what lies ahead.
“Globalization benefits only the economically strong countries and nations,” said Tetaua Taitai, secretary to the cabinet for Kiribati.
Niue premier Sani Lakatani said he sometimes feels his tiny South Pacific nation has been “kicked in the stomach” by larger, more powerful countries.
Representing Fiji was Laisenia Qarase, prime minister of the military-installed interim government that has been running the South Pacific country since a coup, last May, that toppled Fiji’s first ethnic Indian-led government. Chairing the proceedings, however, was former Fiji President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, who was ousted in the coup and announced his retirement last month.
Qarase said Pacific Island nations face an uphill battle in preserving their cultures as they move from traditional, communal forms of government to debate-driven democratic systems.
“Solutions for our problems in Fiji lie in Fiji,” he said. “Interference of outsiders has not solved our problems and in a lot of cases has probably worsened the situation.”
“At some point we may want to stop and review our decision to embrace all forms of liberal democracy,” Qarase added.
Robert Kiste, director of the University of Hawaii’s Center for Pacific Island Studies, said the challenges facing the region are greater and more complex than they were when the first Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders was held 20 years ago.
They include isolation, limited resources, small skilled work forces, vulnerability to natural disasters and bloated governments dependent on outside aid. The region’s population has increased by half since 1980, to nearly 7.8 million, he said. |
