The Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS) opens Port Vila office

The Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS) launched its head office in Port Vila, Vanuatu this week with an opening ceremony at the Tassiriki office officiated by the Vanuatu Prime Minister,

The Honorable Sato Kilman.

PACMAS is a long-term program to support better governance in the Pacific region by promoting a diverse, independent and professional Pacific media system that informs all the people of the Pacific and gives them a voice in public life at local, national and regional levels.

The program is funded by the Australian Government aid agency AusAID and will be managed by ABC International Projects. It will form partnerships with a wide range of Pacific media and civil society organisations.

“The Australian Government has long provided media assistance to the Pacific, ” said Katherine Ruiz-Avila, AusAID Counsellor in Port Vila.

“The media is a fundamental pillar of democracy.”

PACMAS will be managed in Vanuatu by, Mr Francis Herman, who will be supported by, Mr Moses Tongare.

The location of the PACMAS office in Port Vila has been made possible by the cooperation and support of the government of Vanuatu.

Vanuatu Prime Minister Sato Meltek Kilman, said the hosting of PACMAS in Vanuatu shows that the country is taking a greater leadership role in the region:

“AusAID’s faith in Vanuatu hosting this multilateral program is a testament to Vanuatu’s reinforcing its role as a leader amongst Pacific nations,” he said.

The program’s approach to media strengthening addresses the broader role of communication, information and media in governance strengthening and development.

The Head of ABC International Projects, Domenic Friguglietti said: “the program will help in four key areas, including capacity building of skills; policy and regulation; technology and distribution; and innovative content production.”

PACMAS will serve the Pacific countries of Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

For more information about PACMAS visit the program’s website at www.pacmas.org or contact Program Officer Moses Tongare on 24263.