Less than a year after the controversial move by former Vanuatu Prime Minister, Edward Natapei not wanting to hand over the Melanesian Spearhead Group Chairmanship to Fiji's Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, Fiji is now getting ready to host the MSG Leaders Summit today.

Commodore Bainimarama, who was in Hong Kong, has arrived in the country to chair the Leaders Summit with the full backing of the MSG Leaders, and a number of observers like Timor Leste, Indonesia and Luxemburg.

Last year, it was stated that Australia had influenced Natapei to hold on to the MSG Chairmanship and not to give it to Commodore Bainimarama when it was Fiji's turn to Chair the summit.

It was also revealed that Australia had also given 60 million dollars in aid to Vanuatu and many said that this was done to convince Natapei to hold on to the MSG Chairmanship.

But things changed and Natapei also lost the Prime Minister's seat in Vanuatu, resulting in Sato Kilman taking over as Prime Minister.

Kilman is here with Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Danny Philip, Papua New Guinea's Foreign Minister, Don Poyle and the FLNKS Leader from New Caledonia to attend the one day leaders meeting.

Some observers say this is victory for Fiji as it has managed to secure the Chairmanship and host the MSG meeting despite pressure from Australia.

Solomon Islands Foreign Minister, Peter Shanel who assisted in bringing Fiji and Vanuatu together again said he is happy to be in the country, and to witness the meeting going ahead in Fiji.

In March 2007, members signed the Agreement Establishing the Melanesian Spearhead Group, formalizing the group under international law.

It is headquartered in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

A secretariat building has been constructed by the People's Republic of China and was handed over to the MSG in November 2007.

The MSG Leaders Summit gets underway at the Vale ni Bose in Nasova this morning


STory by: Vijay Narayan and Roneel Lal