A COLUMN WRITTEN BY KALIOPATE TAVOLA, PUBLISHED IN ISLANDS BUSINESS, FEB 2022

I introduced the concept of ‘A New Pacific Consciousness’ in my October 2021 issue of this magazine. I concluded that any predisposition to configuring this concept for framing another Pacific regionalism (Pacific Islands Forum – PIF) strategy or mechanism should be avoided. I drew attention to the fact that work on the ‘2050 Strategy’ is still underway – a draft exists; and this is being undertaken with the Forum Leaders’ full blessings. Furthermore, PIF’s recent history is notorious for creating such mechanisms: from the bureaucratic Pacific Plan, for example, to the current more democratic The Framework for Pacific Regionalism. We should therefore resist the temptation for another overhaul.

In that October 2021 article, however, I did entertain the idea of the concept’s preservation for special inspiration and creativity that would consolidate and propel PIF to new heights. This article explores such a prospect. It only aims to tinker with the existing structure. Its outcome can be the inspiration that Pacific regionalism has been missing since its establishment in 1971.

We start with the basics. Consciousness, essentially, is the ability to feel things – a state of being aware of and responsive to one’s surroundings. Such feelings can bring about cause and effect that account for an experience. As such, we are dealing here essentially with individuals, human beings. Living human beings to be precise. Human beings have intelligence that can process one’s responses, through being conscious, to solve problems.

That accounts for the ‘consciousness’ in the title. From ‘Consciousness’ to ‘Pacific Consciousness’ however, requires a mental and conceptual leap.

Now, if the same process above is undertaken by an individual belonging to the Pacific region in one way or another, that individual’s feelings, awareness and responses to solving local and regional problems can be identified as contributing to Pacific Consciousness.

In the context of Pacific regionalism, that is a great advantage. Imagine further if several region-grown individuals have and share the same feelings and awareness and they configure their decisions to resolving problems jointly, the benefit to Pacific regionalism could be immense. Such benefits could be demonstrated by the suitability, practicality, cultural sensitivity, soundness of such decisions. It can be derived that the equity of such benefits would grow as the quality, experience, traditional wisdom and distinction of the individuals involved.

This experience can give rise to evolution of mainstream consciousness: Pacific Consciousness, for example, to guide the Pacific region and to engender agency on all regional and global matters.

The practical question is how could such a scenario be derived? Specifically, how could such a body of suitably endowed individuals be identified?

I believe that we can discount all inter-governmental committees – officials, ministerial and even at PIF Leaders levels, due essentially to their transitory nature. Furthermore, we can discount all efforts in the past aimed at establishing regional bodies for cooperation and integration purposes that have not seen the light of day. The reasons why these ideas have not emerged can be put down to lack of consonance as regards their intended purposes or to delay in the development of integrational architecture into which these ideas were to be framed. This would include the idea of a Pacific parliament.

What is the way forward?  COP26 saw the dawn of the Pacific Elders Voice (PEV).

“PEV is an independent alliance of Pacific elders who have been leaders across the region. Leaders are defined in the most inclusive sense and includes meritorious individuals who have demonstrated competency, effectiveness and greatness in the pursuit of the region’s peace, stability and prosperity from all spheres including cultural, academic, economic, environmental, political, religious, and community.

Its purposeis to draw on collective experience and wisdom to provide constructive thought leadership, perspectives, and guidance that strengthens our regions resilience to current and future challenges and opportunities. Its mission, therefore, is to offer collective Pacific wisdom in service of a just, inclusive and prosperous Pacific Region.” PEV will be registered in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

PEV’s first ever initiative was for COP26. It was momentous for its scale and ingenuity. It submitted that “G20 must commit to a New Marshall Plan for Climate Change Action.” Such initiative reflects the collective wisdom of the group and which strikes at the crux of the problems and the scale of the solution that they engender.

PEV’s second initiative was directed at the French Government and its President to bestow veneration and justness to the balanced and opportune appeal of the First Nations people of New Caledonia as regards delaying the referendum in the interest of a peaceful resolution of the political problems of that country.

The group intends to focus on all critical issues confronting the PICs, for example, deep sea mining; apart of course from life-threatening occurrences in the region, like the recent Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption and tsunami.

I would submit, therefore, that PEV has the soul of the region and thus to be bestowed the new mantle as the New Pacific Consciousness. As PEV grows in its collective wisdom, it is likely to expand its sphere of influence to the point that all its utterances may be regarded as mainstream Pacific consciousness. PEV, given its collective astuteness and terms of reference, is likely to take up such a task as a test of its resolve.

‘The Pacific Way’ is a term that has been around since 1970 ever since former late Prime Minister and President of Fiji, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara coined the phrase in his address to the United Nations General Assembly. It has been popularly used in different ways by regional commentators. Some have used the term to indicate or stress a ‘consensual approach to decision making.’ Others have used it essentially as an identifier. Professor Crocombe in 2001, for example, listed 13 features which, he reckoned, provided an element of uniqueness for Pacific Island Countries (PICs). These would characteristically configure their various processes aimed at establishing external relations.

For ‘The Pacific Way’ to permanently find its niche in the mainstream Pacific Consciousness, there may be merit in the PEV subjecting this concept to intense analysis with the aim of unifying its meanings and usage, thus establishing concretely its favoured application in PICs’ formulation of their collective external policy briefs.

There will be hazards to watch out for. In identifying features that are unique to the Pacific, there might be a tendency to over-play our Pacific exceptionalism to the point where a false sense of over-confidence prevails. This, as it has been proven in other cases, can lead to unrealistic framing of foreign policies. But worse, to paraphrase the late Dr Teresia Teaiwa, we may be committing our greatest ‘crime’ to ghettoize ourselves.

Pragmatism, hope and optimism for Pacific regionalism should pave the way for a new Pacific Consciousness. There are obviously big regional issues, candid reflections of which can contribute to mainstream Pacific Consciousness. These reflections can be embodied by the PEV, for example and its ensuing initiatives, if framed with realism, unity of purpose and determination, could pave the way forward to allow PICs to have agency on all issues that concern them.

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© Kaliopate Tavola and kaidravuni.com, 2025. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kaliopate Tavola, kaidravuni.com and Islands Business with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.