1. Governance Challenges in the
Pacific
16th November, 2015

2. Our region embraces good
governance
“We embrace good governance, the full observation of
democratic values, the rule of law, the defence and promotion
of human rights, gender equality, and commitment to just
societies.”
(Framework for Pacific Regionalism)
Tess Newton Cain

3. Before FPR…
• Biketawa Declaration (2000)
• Auckland Declaration (2004)
• Pacific Plan
Tess Newton Cain

4. Tess Newton Cain
Photo credit: Vanuatu Daily Post

5. How is governance being
challenged?
• Attacks on democracy
• Diluting of rights
• Undermining the Rule of Law
Tess Newton Cain

6. Executive encroaching on
Legislature’s Power
Power
Executive
Legislature
Judiciary
Power
Executive
Legislature
Judiciary
Tess Newton Cain

7. Controlling social media
“It is not our intention to control the media but there must be
some proper mechanisms in place…people have to be
responsible when they are using social media to attack others.
For cyber-crime we are going to make it an offence for people
to use pen-names, not using their real names and making
defamatory statements. You have to be answerable for it.”
Tess Newton Cain

8. Tess Newton Cain
Rule
of Law
Certain
Applies
to all
Due
process
Visible
Elements of the Rule of Law

9. Tess Newton Cain
‘Institutions’
Decision-makers
The whole community

10. Tess Newton Cain
Political will needs to be cultivated…

11. Tess Newton Cain

12. tess@devpacific.org
Tess Newton Cain
Tess Newton Cain