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 | (left - right): The Vice-Chancellor and President of USP, Professor Rajesh Chandra, Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum and Prime Minister of Cook Islands, Honorable Henry Puna and the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade at the lecture. |
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The Prime Minister of Cook Islands and the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Honorable Henry Puna presented a guest lecture during his visit to the University of the South Pacific in Suva on 19 October 2012.
Honourable Puna, who was sworn in as Prime Minister of the Cook Islands in 2010, is well known for his interest in the development of young people around the region.
Delivering his talk on ‘Thinking ‘Outside the Rocks’: Re-imagining the Pacific’, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to reverse a self-imposed limitation of believing that Pacific Islands are simply “dots on a map.”
“A changing world demands changing mindsets, and those demands are pressing for a renewed effort on our part to re-define our thinking in ways that reflect who we are, and what we want to be, on our own terms. For too long we’ve allowed a sense of smallness to underscore our outlook and projection to the rest of the world,” he shared.
He stressed that island nations carry enormous significance well beyond tiny volcanic specks and atolls in what is a vast, collective territory of the Pacific Ocean. These collective territories, the Prime Minister said are nearly two times the size of Russia, and more than three times the size of the People’s Republic of China.
With the conduct of business evolving in competitive ways that demand new thinking, Honourable Puna explained that collective interests of Pacific governments are being pressured and shaped towards a new Pacific Order – one that will not necessarily meet the expectations of others or the perceptions of outsiders.
“What is important is that we choose what’s best for us. We have the ability to define what’s good, and we have the right to take commanding ownership of our future. I think the time is right that we take on a more concerted effort, as a region, to define ourselves on our own terms,” he said.
While alluding to the theme of the 2012 Pacific Islands Forum – ‘Large Ocean Island States – the Pacific Challenge’, Honourable Puna explained that it is time for the Pacific to re-focused its lens on the world and sharpened its strategy towards greater economic growth and sustainability.
His lecture also looked at the Pacific Plan and what it means to Pacific Island Countries and their aspirations for the future, the role of tourism in the region, and the significance of voyaging and celebrating migratory peoples across the vast Pacific Ocean.
Talking about USP, Honourable Puna mentioned that the University is a microcosm of Pacific relations and the “seed” of the Pacific way of regionalism.
The Prime Minister said he is proud that Cook Islands is a founding member of USP, and added, that it is no surprise that his country is a strong supporter of the University.
“I would like to encourage you to continue to uphold this University with pride and make the most of your time here,” he told University staff and students.
Honourable Puna said that nations are being enriched through USP as it has represented the region’s interests in strengthening corporative ties since its establishment in 1968.
The lecture was well received by the audience gathered at the Multi Purpose Theatre at the University. Participants included representatives from regional and international organizations, University staff and students, media and the general public.
The Vice-Chancellor and President of USP, Professor Rajesh Chandra said it was a “privilege” to have the Prime Minister speak to the USP community.
“The Prime Minister has chosen a very interesting topic to speak to all of us and it is important that issues relating to the region are brought up at the University so there is an active engagement with our staff and students,” he added.
Professor Chandra highlighted that the Cook Islands is a very important member of the University and the Cook Islands students add a significant number to the multi-cultural student population of the University.
The Vice-Chancellor also spoke of the University’s plans to further develop its 14 regional campuses and to build a much stronger sense of ownership of the University throughout its member countries.
After delivering his lecture, the Cook Islands Prime Minister was accompanied by Professor Chandra, and other guests took part in a tree planting exercise organised by the USP Student Association and the Properties and Facilities section.
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