Leaders forum tackles greater cooperation in South Pacific

Governor General Michael Ogio, Chief Scout of Papua New Guinea, welcomed the participants of the Council of South Pacific Scout Associations (CSPSA) Forum and workshop on 25-28 May 2015 in Port Moresby. He said that Scouting greatly contributes to the education of young people in PNG, citing his own experiences as a Scout which largely influenced what he is today and what he has achieved in life.

With 22 key leaders from Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, the gathering mainly discussed the development of Scouting in the South Pacific and how they can cooperate and support each other.


World Scout Bureau/Asia-Pacific Regional Director J. Rizal C. Pangilinan reiterated the need to strengthen their capacity as Scout organizations to provide better services to their members using the 4-C’s – Communication, Coordination, Cooperation and Complementation as the key factors for growth. 

The Regional Director acknowledged Scouts Australia and The Scout Association (UK) for supporting the event, and the Scout Association of PNG for hosting their South Pacific neighbors.

The CSPSA Forum elected Mr Joe Billy Oge, Chief Commissioner (The Scout Association of Solomon Island Branch) as Chairman, and Ms Susana Taafaki (Tuvalu Scout Association) as the Vice Chairman for the period 2015 – 2017.

The 3-day workshop focused on providing knowledge and skills on strengthening NSO structures and organization, human resource, resources development, and a discussion on APR Sea Scouting, disaster reduction management and Messenger of Peace.