Fijian Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama said it is unfortunate that certain Pacific countries are not in the first ever Pacific Islands Development Forum that is focusing on leadership for Green and Blue Pacific Economies.
Our News Director, Vijay Narayan reports from Sheraton Fiji Resort.
While speaking at the Sheraton Fiji Resort, Commodore Bainimarama said some of the countries have chosen to regard the Forum as a political event rather than grasp its true purpose - which is to address the very real threat that the Pacific people face and could be catastrophic if the Pacific don't act in a an unselfish manner.
He said time is running out and the forum should deliver outcomes that are achievable, affordable and tailored to meet the Pacific's specific needs.
Commodore Bainimarama said today sees a new era of regional cooperation, solidarity and friendship.
While speaking to leaders and ministers from the 14 Pacific Island countries, a number of observers, members of the NGO's and the private sector, Commodore Bainimarama made it clear that until now, sovereign governments have largely determined how the Pacific will respond to its many challenges.
He said the small island territories have not had a direct say and neither have civil society groups and businesses.
The Prime Minister said the people most affected by government decisions - the grassroots and their representatives - have largely been excluded from the decision-making process.
He said the Pacific needs a new body and a new framework of cooperation.
The Prime Minister said the existing regional structure for the past four decades - the Pacific Islands Forum - is for Governments only and has also come to be dominated only by a few.
Commodore Bainimarama stressed that the international community must face up to its responsibilities to tackle the issue of climate change, which threatens the very existence of some of our nations.
He said the Pacific is not interested in the excuses of the carbon-emitting countries selfishly trying to protect their own economies by refusing to sign up to emission targets.
Commodore Bainimarama also welcomed some of the world's biggest and richest nations, who are in Fiji as observers.
Some of these countries like China, Russia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have also contributed towards the funding of this first ever forum.
Prime Minister of Timor Leste, Xanana Gusmao also said the Pacific is starting on a historic journey with the start of the new forum.
He said the voices of the Pacific will not be heard if a country is speaking alone.
Pacific island leaders and ministers from the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea are attending the meeting.
Story by: Vijay Narayan in Denarau
