Venue: ROYAL SUVA YACHT CLUB BURE
Heads of Pacific Island Regional Organizations;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Trustees, Board and Committee of the Pacific Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing Council;
Permanent Secretary – Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources;
Invited Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Bula vinaka and a very good afternoon to all of you.
I am indeed delighted and honoured to be here this afternoon to launch the Pacific Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing Council and it is my distinct pleasure to welcome you all.
Ladies and Gentlemen
I was privileged to open the 2017 Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing Conference which was held at the Japan ICT Centre at the University of the South Pacific (USP), in November last year.
I followed that Conference very closely and I was in complete admiration and respect of the leaps and bounds that GIS and Remote Sensing technological applications had to offer. Especially the breakthrough’s in the adaptation of technology from our specialists, including many of our very own Pacific people.
I am proudly comforted by the fact that we and our neighbours from around the Pacific, are in good hands with this specialist knowledge and application in GIS and Remote Sensing technology. Particularly when it is critical to the development, growth, and prosperity of our people.
Ladies and Gentlemen
At the Conference in USP, I had shared then that this Council, had its humble beginnings in a national conference of GIS experts in 1999, and quickly evolved into an international gathering of Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing experts 3 years later.
From that Conference, I am proud to stand with the Pacific Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing Council and to officially launch it today. Furthermore, I commend the staff of the Ministry of Lands and their partners at the Pacific Community (SPC) and USP, in your agility and foresight in the creation of this Council. The genesis of which I had also briefly highlighted at the 2017 Conference.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Technology is but a tool. It is how the technology is applied to meet the needs of the people. This important process is very dependent on the experts who are able to adapt the technology to the front-end needs of its clients. Be they villages, settlements, infrastructure officials, disaster recovery specialists, NGOs, religious organisations and the list goes on. No matter how advanced and innovative technology may be but if not applied accordingly, it’s purpose and importance is lost as well.
Therefore, our Pacific GIS and Remote Sensing specialists can hold their heads up high in the work that they do, but at the same time need Government’s support in pushing the boundaries even further.
Having said that, the appointment of my Permanent Secretary of Lands and Mineral Resources, as one of three Trustees on this Council is an indication of the Fijian Government’s commitment to this great initiative.
The other two trustees are Dr Russell Howarth, who is a former Director of SOPAC and Mr Rajendra Singh, a Commissioner for Oaths and recent Member of the Order of Fiji Award. All three trustees are prominent individuals in their respective fields and with this, I confidently say that the Council is in very good hands.
The Chairman of the Council’s Board is Dr Wolf Forstreuter and the Board
members consist of GIS and remote sensing specialists from the Ministry of Lands, Ministry of Forestry, USP and SPC.
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is also my hope that other regional counterparts willingly and happily offer their expertise to serve on this Council. Whilst I continue to extend an invitation to them, I strongly believe that together, we can take our Pacific grown knowledge to greater heights and bring innovation to this critical area. Hence, we can anticipate more positive outcomes when the new Council continues to convene the Conference for an Annual Pacific gathering.
I am happy to mention that the Council recently established focal points in all Pacific islands. This is to enable the sharing of information about the Conference and to also organise presentations and ideas, in preparation for the next Conference, which is to be hosted by our counterparts in Vanuatu.
In the margins of the 2017 Conference, I was also able to have discussions with DigitalGlobe representative and I look forward to a partnership between the Ministry and DigitalGlobe in the not too distant future. I also commend DigitalGlobe for a job well done, most particularly during the early days post TC Winston. With the provision of satellite imagery, we were able to prioritise and move swiftly to provide rapid rehabilitation and recovery assistance to our people.
Ladies and Gentlemen
In launching the Pacific Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing Council today, I must highlight the five objectives of our Council, which are clearly laid out in the Council Constitution. They are:
(1) To promote the development of Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing data, technologies, methods and services for the Pacific region;
(2) To enable collaboration and share lessons learnt across regional agencies and commercial parties;
(3) To discuss and establish methods in building adaptation for the Pacific environment for solutions working already well outside the region;
(4) To manage the distribution, publication and awareness of conference outcomes;
(5) To establish robust links with other Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing and scientific bodies regionally and globally.
The highest standards have been set, all that is needed now is to follow through and ensure that we achieve these objectives for everyone to benefit from.
These objectives cannot be met if our specialists are operating in a bubble far removed from the needs of our people. Thus, I commend the Council’s wisdom in its intention to harness three vehicles for information dissemination, which are:
1) The Pacific Islands Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing Newsletter
2) Information on the widely circulated email distribution list: GIS-PacNet; and
3) The Pacific Islands Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing User Conference including the website and social media platforms.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Another key objective of the Council is to ensure connectivity and robust linkages with other GIS, Remote Sensing and scientific bodies both regionally and globally.
Already the Council is achieving its goals on that front, as it is presently linked to:
- Pacific Science, Technology and Resource Network aka STAR. Originally an advisory group for SOPAC annual session
- The Fiji Geospatial Information Management Council
- The International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
- The Circum-Pacific Council
- SPC or Pacific Community (known as the South Pacific Community)
- The Pacific Islands Chapter of the Internet Society
- The Spatial Industries Business Association
- The Pacific Geospatial and Surveyors Council
Ladies and Gentlemen
Before I conclude, I would like to remind the Council on how critical it is to place importance on the issue of climate change. Climate change is at the forefront of Fiji’s mind and all Pacific Island Countries and as such, it is something that is directly related to our development, aspirations, readiness, awareness and protection of our younger generations and the generations to come.
Coming back to today’s event, I have full confidence in our Council and will eagerly watch it grow from strength to strength, as I know it would.
With those words, it gives me great pleasure to now officially launch the Pacific Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing Council.
Vinaka Vakalevu. Thank You.
View PDF->Minister Speech 2018 Pacific GISRS Council Launch – FT_Revised