The People’s Forum at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024, held at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel, saw a passionate call for Pacific Islanders to reclaim their storytelling freedom.
Veteran Tongan journalist and President of the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA), Kalafi Moala, voiced concerns about historical constraints on media and expression in the Pacific.
Moala highlighted how governments, churches, and large corporations have long influenced the narrative, restricting Pacific people from freely telling their own stories.
“I think we in the Pacific need to be free enough to tell our own stories. We have not been free to tell our own stories in past decades,” said Moala.
He emphasized the transformative power of storytelling, adding, “It’s not just telling a story to entertain, it’s not just telling a story to inform. We demand that there will be changes that come with the storytelling.”
Moala’s sentiments were echoed by other prominent voices at the forum, including renowned Samoan environmental activist, Suluafi Brianna Fruean. Speaking with the Samoa Observer, Fruean stressed the importance of truth-tellers in initiating societal change. “All change comes from someone brave enough to tell the truth that change was needed,” she said.

Fruean encouraged those dedicated to truth-telling, recognizing their crucial role in shaping Pacific communities. “Your role is vital in our community. It’s the only way societies have ever really changed—through storytellers and truth-tellers, and that’s what we need,” she said.
The People’s Forum provided a platform for these discussions, shedding light on the importance of independent journalism and the necessity for freedom of expression in the Pacific. Participants stressed that storytelling is not just an act of communication but a tool for societal transformation.
Fruean spoke candidly about the challenges of confronting difficult truths. “The truth can be ugly and it can be hard, but that’s where the beauty is—once we heal from those things that are hard. And we can only do that if we really face it.”
Dr. James Hospedales, a public health expert from the Caribbean, was also on the panel. The dialogue spanned various issues, including climate resilience, funding for sustainable initiatives, and the fundamental necessity of freedom of expression.
The People’s Forum set a bold agenda for CHOGM, calling for greater freedom in media to foster a society where storytelling becomes a vehicle for meaningful change.