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Solomon Islands minister makes courtesy visit to CYP South Pacific centre

30 January 2008

The newly appointed Solomon Islands Minister of Youth Affairs, Hon Peter Tom, made a courtesy visit to the CYP South Pacific Regional Centre as part of his familiarisation visit to regional and international organisations working in the youth area

The Minister was accompanied by his Permanent Secretary, Ms Ethel Sigimanu and met with the Regional Director and the Programme Managers.

In welcoming the Minister to the CYPSP Centre, the Regional Director Ms Afu Billy thanked the Minister for his visit to the Centre and relayed the appreciation of the CYP to the Government of Solomon Islands for hosting the Centre and the continued support that the Solomon Islands Government has provided to CYPSP.

The Regional Director provided a brief outline of the work of the Centre, focusing on the three key strategic programme areas of CYP and the Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment. An overview of the current activities that the CYPSP is undertaking in the region and in Solomon Islands was also provided to the Minister.

The Minister expressed his appreciation to the CYP for the work it has been doing in the area of youth development in the Solomon Islands and the region as a whole and assured the CYPSP Centre of his Ministry's continued support and cooperation. He acknowledged the strong partnership that the CYP has with his Ministry and hoped that this partnership will be further strengthened.

The meeting also discussed a number of new initiatives and activities for the Solomon Islands that would be implemented in partnership between the CYP and the Government. This included the development and implementation of a new National Youth Strategic Plan, the implementation of PAYE and the convening of National Youth Parliament.

In concluding the meeting and the Minister's visit, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Women, Youth and Children's affairs Ms Ethel Sigimanu thanked the CYP and noted that the Ministers visit to the CYP Centre demonstrated the importance that the Government of Solomon Islands attaches to the CYP and the Commonwealth Secretariat in general.