OCEAN CARE

Fijians tasked to be voices of the Pacific, says A-G

Fijians are putting the voices of the Pacific at the forefront and taking the lead role in heralding the protection of our oceans and their preservation for future generations. Attorney-General and Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum made the statement while opening the Pacific Voices for a Global Ocean Challenge conference at the University of the South Pacific Laucala campus yesterday.

“Fijians are fully committed to setting an example to the rest of the world and show how a society can grow its economy, improve the lives of its people and welcome prosperity without risking the health of our oceans, killing marine species and dumping rubbish in the sea,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

On a more local perspective, the two-day conference coincides with the Oceans Conference currently being led by Prime Ministers Voreqe Bainimarama in New York. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the world should unite to take serious action to reduce pollution, over-fishing and reverse the degradation which our ocean has suffered.

“We are seeking a commitment from all 7.5 billion people on earth to join the cause to save our oceans and make this that moment that the world changes its course. “A course that will improve the quality of our oceans rather than diminishing them.

“But here in Fiji we must be just as ambitious in protecting our own waters and species that inhabit them and must live out every day the same respect for our ocean and marine life that we are calling for the rest of the world,” he said. He added that the Fijian Government is proud to support the conference which is also being supported by the French Government and USP.

The conference ends today.

Fijians are fully committed to setting an example to the rest of the world and show how a society can grow its economy, improve the lives of its people and welcome prosperity without risking the health of our oceans, killing marine species and dumping rubbish in the sea Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum Attorney-General and Acting Prime Minister

Photo: Office of the Attorney-General Attorney-General and Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum at the Oceans Day Celebration of ‘Pacific Voices for a Global Ocean Challenge’ at the University of the South Pacific at Laucala Bay, Suva on June 8, 2017.

Photo: Office of the Attorney-General Reps from various organisations at the Pacific Voices for a Global Ocean Challenge Conference at the University of the South Pacific, in Laucala Bay, Suva on June 8, 2017.