Former Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna is the new head of the Pacific Island Forum, drawing to a close a tense period that drew out threats to Pacific regionalism.

The Secretary General position had been particularly contested ahead of the Special Leaders Retreat and leadership vote on Wednesday, with leaders from the Micronesian nations demanding their representative be picked as a show of fairness.

Leaders had nominated Gerald Zackios of the Marshall Islands, saying it is Micronesia’s turn to be represented in the top job and threatened to leave the Forum if their wishes weren’t honoured.

But after an all-day meeting that went late into the night, most of the Forum leaders, including Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi, voted for Mr. Puna with just one vote getting him over the line.

Pacific journalists report Mr. Puna got nine votes to Mr. Zackios’ eight. The voting process included in-depth questioning of the candidates during the meeting, which was held virtually.

Micronesian leaders have said there is a “gentleman’s agreement” whereby the role of Secretary-General should rotate between them, Polynesia and Melanesia. 

In a submission to the Forum, the leaders said they would leave the regional group if that agreement is not honoured, saying they will feel they have no place in it.

“I believe every country must feel ownership of the Pacific Islands Forum but if you keep tossing the S.G role around to only certain countries within the group then the rest would feel that they don’t have a place in the organisation,” Former Kiribati Leader Anote Tong told Islands Business this week. 

In a statement, the Pacific Islands Forum Chair, Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Kausea Natano honoured the work of outgoing Secretary General Dame Meg Taylor.

“Leaders commended her stellar leadership and guidance to the Pacific Islands Forum on regional issues over the past 6 years and wished her well in her future endeavours.”

The leaders retreat also focused on the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine distribution in the Pacific, with special acknowledgement to Australia and New Zealand who have secured vaccines for Pacific people.

They also discussed climate change and “increasing geostrategic competition in the region,” according to Mr. Natano’s statement.

Leaders will address media in a virtual press conference at 2pm local time, and decisions from the retreat including a statement and outcomes will be released later. 

This is a developing story.