PORT VILA, VANUATU (16 September 2025): The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat congratulates the Government and people of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea (PNG) for reaching its 50th Independence Anniversary today.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Hon, James Marape, Acting Director General of the MSG Secretariat, Ilan Kiloe, said, “while a poignant and sombre occasion, celebrations provide a great opportunity to reflect on the successes and challenges of statehood since 1975 – a time for celebration, reflection and renewal therefore”.
He noted that as a founding and senior member of the MSG family, PNG has continued to embody the qualities of Melanesian solidarity, of a big brother to the rest of Melanesia and the broader Pacific family.
This he said, was exemplified recently on the margins of the 54th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting in Honiara, last week, with the signing of security frameworks between PNG and Solomon Islands.
“As a matter of fact, PNG’s Kumul-force’s intervening in the Santo rebellion is widely considered a first in regional intervention, and greatly assisted Vanuatu achieve unified statehood post-independence in 1980,” he stated.
“This, might I add, is a responsibility that we owe the Peoples of Melanesia and Oceania as a whole, notwithstanding principles of national sovereignty, territorial integrity and common geographic and ethnocentric regional classifications.
“These efforts all contribute to the achievement of the “MSG 2038-Prosperity for All” Plan, which envisions an MSG community that is strong, integrated, enlightened, happy, prosperous, secure and caring,” he said.
ADG Kiloe said Papua New Guinea remains an archetypical defender of democracy, social justice, equitable and sustainable socio-economic growth and development, notwithstanding steep challenges, both internal and external in nature, including the existential threat of climate change.
“Moreover, I wish to congratulate you on your exemplary political and astute regional leadership. We look forward to the same leadership and support, as the Secretariat endeavours to takes its rightful place in the CROP family, and going through to the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly,” he stated.
He further expressed profound appreciation to PM Marape for his wise counsel and direction rendered to the Secretariat during the 23rd MSG Leaders’ Summit held in Suva, Fiji last June.
This he added, is something that the Secretariat greatly values as it strives to better serve the MSG Membership.
Caption: Members of the PNG community in Vanuatu during the 49th Independence Anniversary celebrations in Port Vila last year.
Melanesia News 