South Pacific Associations meet in French Polynesia

Seven members of the Council of South Pacific Scout Associations (CSPSA) gathered on 28th July 2008 at the Radisson Hotel, in Papeete, French Polynesia and discussed ways on how to further improve Scouting in their respective countries.

The day-long forum, opened by French Polynesia's Minister of Youth and Sports Mr Clarentz Vernaudon, was attended by the Chief Commissioners of Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, French Polynesia, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu who made a review on the progress of Scouting in the South Pacific over the years and looked for ways as to how they can reach out to a bigger number of people. The forum elected Itenu Helu of Tonga and Sere Kala of PNG as the CSPSA Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively.

Giving support to the forum were APR Scout Committee Member and Scouts Australia's Chief Commissioner John G Ravenhall, Scouting New Zealand's International Commissioner George Fairbarn, International Director France Christian Larcher and APR representatives Regional Director Abdullah Rasheed and Director S Prassanna Shrivastava

It was agreed that the next CSPSA meeting on July 2010 will be hosted by Tonga Scout Association.