PIDC Family Grows with American Samoa and Tokelau Membership
Mr. Simona Mei on behalf of Tokelau signs the PIDC MoU as the Government of Tokelau officially becomes a Member of the PIDC organisation
In a historic year PIDC Members welcomed American Samoa and Tokelau to the PIDC family bringing the total Membership of the organisation to 21.
At the 2019 Regular Annual Meeting in the Cook Islands, the PIDC Membership voted unanimously to welcome Tokelau as the newest Member of PIDC. After initially raising the issue of possible Membership at PIDC Board discussions in November 2018, the Department of Transport and Support Services of Tokelau lodged an application for PIDC Membership on 25 March 2019. In his remarks to the PIDC Membership, Director Simona Mei expressed appreciation on behalf of the Government of Tokelau for the welcome and acceptance by Members into the organisation. He noted that as the youngest Member, Tokelau is keen to learn from Members and participate in the PIDC environment.
In August 2019, Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Va’alele Ale, on behalf of the Department of Legal Affairs (PIDC Implementing Agency for American Samoa) signed the PIDC Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) allowing American Samoa to rejoin PIDC as a full Member. American Samoa had been a Member of PIDC previously but had yet to sign the renewed 2014 PIDC MoU. The Secretariat met with Attorney General Eleasalo and his executive team in August 2019 providing a short briefing on programmes and support provided by the Secretariat, meeting dates and structures, information and intelligence products, and also details regarding the Membership Subscription.
Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Va’alele Ale on behalf of American Samoa signs the PIDC MoU as the Government of American Samoa rejoins PIDC as a full Member