WHILE decolonisation issues relating to the Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak Socialiste (FLNKS) will headline talks at the Special Melanesian Spearhead Group summit that begins in Nadi today, member countries are also expected to further discuss the implementation of an economic bloc.
The idea, mooted by then Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Peter Chanel Agovaka, was intended to foster labour trade between Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji.
Speaking at the MSG meeting in September last year at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi, Mr Agovaka hinted at the use of retired professionals to address skilled labour force issues in member countries.
"This would benefit both the donor and recipient countries," he said at the time. Mr Agovaka also said that should the economic bloc be established, Papua New Guinea's LNG project could be a good testing ground with the participation of skilled workers from Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and the Solomons being employed to work there.
Trade talks aside, the Special MSG talks will focus on the outcomes of the high level Ministerial Mission to New Caledonia which took place earlier this month.