New PIPA Executive Board Elected and 2025 Natadola Declaration Adopted
The 5th Pacific Islands Parliaments Group (PIPG) Conference convened its Constitutive General Assembly of the Pacific Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (PIPA) in Natadola, on the final day of the Conference, marking a transformative moment in the organisation’s history.
Delegates from 15 countries gathered for the final day of the PIPG Conference and witnessed the official signature ceremony of the PIPA statutes.
The Speaker of the Tongan Legislative Assembly, Lord Fakafanua was unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the PIPA Executive Board with the Members of the Working Group elected as Members, which included the Speakers of Parliaments from Fiji, Solomon Islands, French Polynesia and Palau.
Lord Fakafanua said that today was a historic moment for the Pacific Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.
“Our members from the 18 Legislative Assemblies from across the Pacific approved the constitutive documents, rules and procedures for the Assembly. This means that we will be registered as an official organisation under French Polynesian law, as a new Inter-Parliamentary regional organisation.”
“I am privileged and honoured to be elected by the Pacific Island parliaments to be the first Chairperson of the Board. We have been mandated to seek partnerships with inter-parliamentary organisations as well as regional organisations to strengthen the goals of the organisation.”
The key highlights of today’s events were:
Official Signing Ceremony: The formal establishment of PIPA was sealed with the signing of the statutes, establishing it as a regional association of Pacific parliaments and legislative assemblies, with the goal to evolve into a treaty-based regional organisation that is fully embedded within the regional institutional architecture and contributes to a strong, united and empowered Pacific;
Executive Board Election: Members of the Working Group from the Parliaments of Tonga, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Palau and French Polynesia were unanimously elected. The newly elected Board reflects PIPA’s dedication to regional balance, professional diversity, and inclusive governance.
2025 Natadola Declaration: The declaration outlines that this 5th PIPG Conference concludes this process with the creation of the Pacific Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (PIPA), thereby ensuring the continuity and institutional strengthening of Pacific parliamentary co-operation.
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