Fiji has taken over the chairmanship of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) following a traditional handover ceremony held at the Bose Levu Vakaturaga Grounds in Suva this morning.
Outgoing Chair and Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat passed the leadership baton to Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, describing the transition as both “symbolic and historic.”
“It was under your stewardship in 1997, Sir, that Fiji joined the MSG,” Napat said. “And now, like a seasoned captain returning to the helm, you take the wheel once more.”
He praised Fiji’s legacy of leadership in the region, calling the handover a reaffirmation of “our solemn duty to our peoples, our cultures, and our future.”
Rabuka thanked Prime Minister Napat and the Government of Vanuatu for their stewardship since 2022, acknowledging the group’s achievements under their leadership.
“As Fiji takes on the mantle of leadership, we build on the hard work and success that has been laid before us,” Rabuka said, underscoring the need for unity in an increasingly fragmented world.
He also commended Vanuatu’s resilience in the wake of recent challenges, including a 7.3 magnitude earthquake late last year, and reaffirmed Fiji’s continued support.
“We pass on not just a position — we pass on a legacy,” Rabuka said. “It is now Fiji’s moment to carry that torch forward and continue writing the story of Melanesian empowerment.”
