Dream Come True For Nukubati Island Resort Owners
Nukubati Island Resort owners Peter and Jenny Bourke had their dream come true after hosting the International Year of the Reef Global launch at their island on Wednesday.
The only resort in Macuata Province’s Great Sea Reef area had Prime Minister and COP 23 president Voreqe Bainimarama, Minister for Employment Jone Usamate, United Nations special envoy for oceans Peter Thomson, United Nations Environment Programme executive director Erik Solheim, Tui Macuata Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, Assistant Minister for Environment Lorna Eden, United Nations delegations and representatives from various Government departments in attendance.
Mrs Bourke said hosting the global launch of the International Year of The Reef was a legacy work they have participated in and they are very happy.
“Hosting the event is like a dream come true for us as a couple because this is not just about us, it is for the whole of Fiji,” Mrs Bourke said.
“We were asked by the Department of Environment if we could host this event as we had the Great Sea Reef nearby and we were delighted to say yes.
“We had preparation done in two weeks which also includes diving programme.
“All the participants were given free boat rides as it takes five minutes from the mainland to reach our private island,” Mr Bourke said.
“This is the most significant event that we had hosted since we had built this resort in 1990.
“When we say legacy it means something that we will leave behind and something that will benefit everybody. “We will continue to host any event related to the Great Sea Reef and pledge to assist Government, Non-Government Organisations and stakeholders now that we had globally launched the International Year of the Reef.
“The Great Sea Reef is Fiji’s food basket and if we don’t take care of this we will have to eat tin stuff in years to come.
“We have been working with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for more than ten years to conserve our ecosystem. “We even work with the landowners because we understand the value of protecting our ecosystem.”
Nukubati is an all inclusive resort situated inside the Great Sea Reef, off the North Coast of Vanua Levu.
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