Samoa has succeeded Fiji in chairing the Pacific Small Islands Developing States (P.S.I.D.S.) international grouping at the United Nations in New York.

Outgoing P.S.I.D.S. Chair, Satyendra Prasad, Fiji’s Ambassador and Permanent Resident to the U.N. announced that Samoa has assumed the role in a tweet on Monday.

Ambassador Prasad said it was his greatest honour to serve as chair.

“It has been my greatest honor to chair the Pacific Small Islands Developing States at the U.N. On behalf of the Fiji Prime Minister and Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs I thank P.S.I.D.S. for this honor,” he said in a statement on Twitter.

“I offer congratulations and support to Ambassador Fatumanava-O-Upolu III Pa’olelei Luteru of Samoa for taking forward P.S.I.D.S.”

The chairmanship for P.S.I.D.S. was handed over to the Ambassador Fatumanava-O-Upolu III on Friday, 10 September, 2021 at the U.N. in New York.

The ceremony was hosted by Fiji and witnessed by Permanent Residents of P.S.I.D.S. to the U.N.

Tonga was among the nations that attended the ceremony, according to a statement issued by the Permanent Mission of Tonga to the U.N.

“Well done Fiji and the best to Samoa!,” the Tonga mission said on Twitter.

Tonga, they added, has chaired P.S.I.D.S. twice in the past.

Fatumanava-O-Upolu III served as Ambassador of Samoa to the Kingdom of Belgium and to the European Council and Commission. 

He is bilaterally accredited to France, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Italy, The Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Hungary. 

Fatumanava-O-Upolu III has served as Samoa’s Trade Commissioner to New Zealand and Campus Director for the University of South Pacific at Alafua, Samoa.

He has won numerous awards including three government scholarships from New Zealand, Australia and Samoa.

Fatumanava-O-Upolu III holds a Bachelor of Science: Mathematics, Economics & Operational Research, University of Canterbury, New Zealand; a Master of Educational Administration: Economics of Education & Strategic Planning, University of New England, Australia and a Doctor of Philosophy: Development Economics, Strategic Planning, Management, and Aid Policies, Flinders University, Australia.

He also earned a Diploma of Tertiary Education: Educational Finance and Policy, University of New England, Australia.