THE Mekem Strong Solomon Islands Fisheries (MSSIF) new team leader Dr Anne- Maree Schwarz has started in her new role on Tuesday last week.
She takes over from Simon Diffey, whose three-year contract ended this week and has since left the country to return to England.
In welcoming the incumbent MSSIF Team Leader, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Permanent Secretary Dr Christian Ramofafia has assured her his Ministry will work closely with her to continue the legacy left behind by her predecessor.
“Anne-Maree, on behalf of our Minister and the staff, welcome to the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources. I look forward to working with you and the MSSIF team to give to the people of Solomon Islands what belongs to them as we develop the fisheries sector,” Dr Christian said.
The new MSSIF team leader is not new to Solomon Islands arriving here in 2005.
She worked with the WoldFish Centre since then as lead scientist for WorldFish’s many Programmes and Projects.
Dr Christian acknowledged this saying she comes to the MSSIF position with many years of experience and he is confident she will lead MSSIF in partnership with MFMR to new heights by providing strong leadership and commitment.
In her respose, Dr Anne-Maree assured the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries of her commitment to achieve the ministry’s goals during her tenure in office.
She said her experience working with a non-government organisation has given her a different perspective of how communities see the government and she will utilise every opportunity she has to ensure continuity where the former team leader Simon Diffey left.
Asked what her immediate plans are for the Ministry of Fisheries and especially MSSIF’s role in this partnership with MFMR, she said the government’s priorities will be her priority.
“My goal is to carry on MSSIF’s good work in strengthening the work of the ministry,” Dr Anne-Maree said.
The Mekem Strong Solomon Islands Fisheries (MSSIF) is a long term capacity building programme embedded inside the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources with funds from the New Zealand Government.
