PNG withdraws candidate for FFA top job, MSG support Vanuatu’s Moses Amos

Papua New Guinea has withdrawn its candidate for the position of Director General of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) based in Solomon Islands.

The decision was contained in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders communique endorsed in Port Moresby last month.

Announcing the decision, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill of Papua New Guinea and MSG chair said PNG withdrew its candidate to allow for one MSG single nomination,

“I confirm the support of the MSG for the Vanuatu candidate for the FFA top job. There is no other need for another candidate, thus PNG has withdrawn its candidate, said PM O’Neill.

Based on the Leaders decision, Vanuatu’s candidate, Moses Amos, the director, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems division at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) will now be the MSG-backed nomination for the FFA job to replace James Movick who completes his term later this year.

Lobbying for Vanuatu’s candidate, senior foreign affairs official at the Senior Officials Meeting, Yvon Basil said the position has always been held by people from Polynesia and Micronesia and “it’s now time for someone from Melanesia to be appointed for the FFA job.”

PNG’s withdrawal now means that Vanuatu’s Moses Amos will be up against a candidate each from Tonga, Kiribati and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

SOURCE: PACNEWS