The MSG Leaders’ summit which was twice re-scheduled has endorsed the appointment of Fijian national Amena Yauvoli as the Director General.

Earlier, Yauvoli’s appointment by the chairman of the MSG, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare as Director General of the Melanesian Spearhead Group was disputed by Vanuatu causing delays in formalizing the position.

Vanuatu, whose candidate of choice was its diplomat to Brussels, Roy Mickey Joy, claimed there were deficiencies in the process for the appointment of Yauvoli.

However whatever differences there were have now been settled and the MSG leaders have formalized the appointment of Yauvoli as the Director General.

Also a matter on the table, the full membership of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua has been deferred to September.

It’s understood the MSG leaders said the secretariat needed to establish guidelines for membership and that there was a criteria issue with the West Papuan’s application.