15 The discrepancy in available capacities and resources is relative, for there is concern on both sides of the fence about the modesty of resources being invested in law reform in all Pacific countries.  The absence of institutions and resources in small island States is not a total dilemma, for there are other available options and also opportunities for cooperation and assistance.  There is much to learn from the larger and established institutions on the fundamentals: in particular, of the need for thorough research and consultations; the exposure to the ideas of experts and others; and of engaging the general public.  There are many more of the educated population in all island countries today who need to be engaged on many contemporary issues, including those of freedom of expression, youth, gender and the environment.  The absence of resources does not mean the acceptance of tokenism of ill-funded, under-staff make-do arrangements. Nonetheless, the circumstances of the smaller countries (unlikely to be altered in any dramatic form in the near future) are such that the consideration of new forms of partnerships might be warranted.  Instead of two small jurisdictions each undertaking a major programme of, say, implementation legislation to support the ICC, might it be more effective, cost and time-wise, for both jurisdictions, especially if neighboring countries, to share the same programme (clearly with room for adaptation)?  Might some of the law reform work of the island States, or some specific aspect of it, from time to time be ‘contracted’ out to one of the more established law reform commissions?   Perhaps some capacity for law reform related research or training might be considered for the University of the South Pacific, possibly in connection with the regional work on the development of model legislation. It is difficult to assess from my distance whether the law reform authorities of the Pacific, including Australia and New Zealand, are engaged or at least contributing to the considerable amount of law creation work being undertaken in the region.  Their experience and expertise would be of immense value to the regional effort, quite apart from the opportunities for professional networking, and it would seem most desirable that they be involved.  A laudable feature of the regional legislative work is the ready recognition being given to the need for clear and appropriate legislative frameworks to underpin the agenda for regional development.  The engagement of institutional law reform machinery can only add to strengthening the recognition given to the role of law in development. It is understandable that the law development and legislative work of the region is being centred around the issues of immediate concerns for regional security, the environment, economic development and trade.  And it may be that there are mandate-limits to the involvement of the law reform agencies.  Yet, there are other broader issues such as international terrorism and support for the international criminal justice system that are either now on the Pacific regional agenda, or potentially for the regional agenda, that would seem to warrant the attention of all regional law reform agencies. Modernisation of the law is a fundamental operational principle for law reform.  The Pacific constitutions need to be looked at in this connection, in part to check on the