Overview

n 1997, USP students from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu participated. There were usually two students from each country who were the PM and the Minister of Tourism.


The opening night ceremonies were on Tuesday, Oct. 14. The chief guest was Mr. Levani Tuinabua, chief executive, Tourism Council of the South Pacific. Samoa had volunteered to be the host country and they provided for the opening ceremonies.


The conference chair was Ahohiva Levi (the previous year's delegate from Niue), Vivian Koster served as conference raporteur (a new post), Sadhna Sen took the role of conference public relations officer (also a new post).

 

Wednesday and Thursday nights had about ten research papers presented by students from various classes.


On Friday, the two main deIlegates from each country boarded a bus for a "retreat" at the Ocean Pacific Club. They worked Friday evening, all day Saturday, and on Sunday until we left, to come to a consensus on the communiquÈ. Another innovation was added in the form of a "crisis" consisting of a simulated leaked memo indicating that Air New Zealand was planning to stop their flights into Nadi unless they were granted additional landing rights. The Fiji delegation had a significant reaction to this news.


After a lot of hard work the communiqué from the conference was prepared and circulated for the closing ceremony on Monday, Oct. 20. That evening the communiquÈ was signed by the heads of government, final speeches were made, and certificates of achievement were awarded. At that point, a press conference was held with the student journalists and a few selected conference delegates. Afterwards there was entertainment and celebratory food.


Funding for the second conference was provided by the Tourism Council of the South Pacific, USPSA, and SSED.

Learning Through Simulations (copyright 2011, Society in Transition)