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SECRETARIAT OF THE PACIFIC COMMUNITY (SPC)

Le Secrétariat Général de la Communauté du Pacifique (CPS) 


        
HEADQUARTERS

        

B.P. D5                                                     Telephone:  [687]26-2000
98848 Noumea Cedex                                          Facsimile:  [687]26-3818
New Caledonia                                               E-Mail:     spc@spc.org.nc
                                                            Internet:   www.spc.int

          Director-General:             ...       Ms. Lourdes PANGELINAN
          Deputy Directors-General:     ...       Yves CORBEL
                                        ...       Jimmie RODGERS



        
LANGUAGES: English, French

        
ESTABLISHMENT AND FUNCTIONS

        
Established on February 6, 1947, when
        representatives of the governments of Australia, France,
        the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the
        United States signed in Canberra, Australia, the
        Agreement Establishing the South Pacific Commission. The
        Agreement is thus generally known as the Canberra
        Agreement.  In 1997, the 50th Anniversary Conference took place
        in Canberra and participants decided to change the name to the
        "Pacific Community".  In 1998, the Secretariat of the Pacific
        Community (SPC), clarified the change of name to SPC for the 
        organization and the Pacific Community for the members; 
        the South Pacific Conference became the Conference of the 
        Pacific Community.
        

        The Secretariat is a technical advice, assistance, training,
        and research agency serving 22 Pacific Island countries
        and territories of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.
        The heart of SPC is its integrated Work Programme. This
        powerful combination of diverse disciplines offers a
        unique approach to the region’s land, marine and
        human resources. The focus of the Work Programme is
        technical assistance, education and training, delivered
        through courses, workshops and seminars at the
        in-country, sub-regional and regional levels. The SPC,
        however, also has strong applied research components,
        particularly in its Oceanic Fisheries and Agriculture
        Programmes. The Work Programme covers: land resources,
        agriculture, forestry, marine resources, oceanic and
        coastal fisheries, maritime, social resources, community
        health, socio-economics, community education, programme
        support units, planning, administrative services, and
        information and communication. 

        
The Netherlands withdrew from the SPC in 1962, when
        it ceased to administer the former colony of Dutch New
        Guinea (now West Papua), and independent and
        self-governing Pacific states were also admitted to
        membership. Western Samoa (now Samoa) became a member in
        October 1965, Nauru in July 1969, Fiji in May 1971, Papua
        New Guinea in September 1975, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu
        in November 1978, and Niue and Cook Islands in October
        1980.  In 1983, at the annual conference held in Saipan, 
        all countries and territories in the area served by SPC 
        became full and equal members; the SPC Conference became 
        the supreme decision-making body.   
        The United Kingdom withdrew from the
        Commission with effect from January 1, 1996 but rejoined
        in January 1998. 

        
COMPOSITION

        
27 members: 22 Pacific Island countries
        and territories: American Samoa, Cook Islands,
        Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands,
        Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia,
        Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea,
        Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga,
        Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna; and 5
        founding countries: Australia, France, New
        Zealand, United Kingdom, United States. 

        
GENERAL PUBLICATIONS

        
Technical Publications (Technical Papers,
        Handbooks, Information Documents, Information

        Circulars, Reports of Meetings, Statistical Bulletins,
        Newsletters, Extension Materials); Conference
        of the Pacific Community Report; Annual Report
        

        
UPDATED:  December 2003

        
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