Former Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna will vacate the Pacific Islands Forum secretary general role at the end of his first term next year, after regional leaders agreed to hand over the role to controversial ex-Nauru president Baron Waqa.

The decision was reached during the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Retreat on Aitutaki yesterday, attended by all regional leaders except the newly elected Nauru President David Adeang.

Adeang and his delegation walked out of a plenary meeting at the 52^nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Rarotonga on Wednesday after questions were raised about the process to nominate the next secretary-general of the Forum. Waqa was confirmed as Micronesia’s nominee to lead the regional organisation at a Special Forum Leaders meeting in Fiji in February.

Adeang left Rarotonga on a charter flight yesterday morning after meeting with United States Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

Adeang left Rarotonga on a charter flight yesterday morning after meeting with United States Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield. 23111003

Following the Leaders Retreat at Aitutaki’s One Foot Island, Puna joined the incoming Forum chair Tonga Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, Federated States of Micronesia President Wesley Simina, Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, the current chair, at a press conference to announce their decision.

Brown said the leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to the Suva Agreement, which states that the Micronesian candidate will assume the position from next year.

The agreement envisions rotating the leadership role among the three sub-regions: Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia. It also calls for the establishment of a new Pacific Islands Forum office in a Micronesian country and the relocation of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner position to Micronesia.

Puna said that a secretary general to the Forum is a servant to the island leaders and that his work is to implement all the decisions made by the Forum members.

When questioned about the selection criteria, Puna said: “Leaders have reaffirmed their decision from February, appointing Baron Waqa.”

He said the agreement is solely on the leaders.

Waqa’s nomination has been subject to criticism in the media due to his track record during his time in power, including the sacking of judges, Australia’s Police investigating him for taking bribes, and for imposing harsh restrictions on the media.

Responding to the incoming secretary general’s controversial past, Fiji PM Sitiveni Rabuka said they are not judges.

“Who judged Waqa as a controversial figure? As far as we are concerned, we are not judges. We received the nomination, and I was part of bringing back Micronesia earlier on, and I had to fly to Kiribati to talk to our colleague and bring back Micronesia to make sure they will continue to be members of the Pacific community.”

Outgoing New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni takes a selfie with Pacific leaders during their Retreat on Aitutaki yesterday. Picture: Carmel Sepuloni/Facebook/23110923

Rabuka said Waqa’s appointment was transparent.

PM Brown also said: “We received updates from members of the Micronesian Presidential Summit on the different aspects of the Suva agreement, including the establishment of the oceans commissioner’s office, establishment of a sub-regional office, and confirmation of Baron Waqa as the next secretary general to the Pacific Islands forum.”

He also confirmed that the next Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting will be held in Tonga.