Papua New Guinea Assumes Chair of CTI-CFF Council of Ministers, Philippines is Vice Chair

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is the new Chair of the CTI-CFF Council of Ministers (CTI COM), and the Philippines is the new Vice Chair. Their term began on May 16, 2014, and will end on May 16, 2016, or “when the next Ministerial Meeting will be held after 16 May 2016.”

PNG’s Minister for the Environment, Conservation and Climate Change, Mr. John Pundari, took over the CTI COM chairmanship from Malaysia’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Datuk Dr. Ewon Ebin. The handover ceremony on May 15, at the conclusion of the 5th Ministerial Meeting in Manado, Indonesia, was represented by PNG’s Environment, Conservation and Climate Change Department Secretary, Mr. Gunther Joku.

The members of the CTI COM thanked Dr. Ewon for his leadership and lauded him for the tremendous progress achieved during his term in developing the coordination mechanisms that provide the foundation for the long-term success of the CTI-CFF as a partnership of nations committed to managing the Coral Triangle for sustainability.

The CTI COM is the principal decision-making body of the CTI-CFF, responsible for maintaining the CTI-CFF vision, promoting regional priorities, and considering, approving, or disapproving the decisions of the CTI Committee of Senior Officials (CTI CSO) on proposals, recommendations, plans, programs, projects, and activities of the Regional Secretariat, among other functions.

The chairmanship of the CTI COM rotates according to a predetermined two-year schedule among the countries in alphabetical order based on the name of the Party. The same rule applies to the vice chairmanship.

As well as presiding over Ministerial Meetings, the CTI COM Chair—or, in his/her absence or incapacity, the Vice Chair—acts on behalf of the CTI COM “on any matter which is the responsibility of the CTI COM.”