SPECIAL PACNEWS REPORT
United Nations Meeting of Small Islands Developing States (SIDS): “Small Islands – Big Stakes”
Port Louis, Mauritius (10 – 14 January 2005) PACNEWS coverage is made possible with UNESCO funding
Fiji plans ahead on implementation of Mauritius meeting outcome
14 JANUARY 2005 PORT LOUIS (Pacnews) --- The Fiji Government has begun the ball rolling here in Mauritius, planning ahead on
the implementation of the final document from the small island developing states meeting (SIDS).
A meeting organized by Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Isikia Savua brought together government and civil
society representatives to discuss the way forward for Fiji after Mauritius.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Kaliopate Tavola said the government was ‘determined’ to put in place policies that will have sustainable
development as its focus.
“A lot of work needs to be done when we go back home, but we must put in place the mechanism now to ensure that the Plan of
Action from Mauritius will be incorporated into Fiji’s National Sustainable Development Plan.”
“I will make sure when I get back home that I prepare a cabinet paper on SIDS and one of my priorities is to make sure that this is will
be taken through parliament also. We already have a national committee on sustainable development that will work on the
implementation programme.” Minister Tavola said.
Mr Tavola said the input of civil society and non-governmental organisation will also be taken into consideration.
“A lot of times our contribution have been sidelined by the government. We are implementing a lot of programme with local
communities and we plead with government to use our expertise, said Kesaia Tabunakawai of the Worldwide Fund for Nature.
Former Fiji Electricity Authority senior executive, who’s representing a landowner’s organization, Kasa Saubulinayau suggested a
work programme be drafted immediately after the meeting to set out implementation priorities.
“We urge the government to keep up the momentum and take the Plan of Action back home and work on it. We, at the civil society
level can offer our expertise to help in the implementation. We hope that the plan will not be like other plans, where it goes back home
and gather dust,” said Mr Saubulinayau.
A three member government team is drawing up a proposed plan of action to be discussed by the joint group…PNS (ENDS)
Cuba and Cook Islands form partnership
14 JANUARY 2005 PORT LOIUS (Pacnews) --- Cuba has offered to provide technical assistance to Cook Islands.
Prime Minister Jim Marurai has had a bilateral meeting with the Cuban Minister of Government, Ricardo Cabrisas at the margins of
the international meeting of small island developing states (SIDS) currently underway in Mauritius.
Technical adviser to the office of the PM, John Low told PACNEWS that Cuba is willing to provide doctors and engineers and also
provide assistance in education and sports development.
“Cuba is well known for its excellence in boxing and Cook Islands could make use of this, Mr Low said.
PM’s chief executive officer, Helen Wong said the government of Italy has also been active in the Pacific and has offered US$5
million to the region for food security projects under the management of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO).
She added that Italy has also informed Cook Islands that it will help Pacific island nations in the formulation of national strategies on
sustainable development.
PACNEWS First Edition 14 January, 2005 Page 1 © Copyright PINA 2005
Pacific Islands News Association, Private Mail Bag, GPO, Suva, Fiji Islands Phone (679) 3315 522, Fax (679) 3315 379
E-mail pacnews@connect.com.fj Web Site www.pacnews.org
“Half a million dollars has been earmarked for this for the whole region and Cook Islands hopes to get some of this money.
“National sustainable development strategies have been recognized as an important mechanism, which should ‘build upon and
harmonise the various social, economic and environmental policies and plans that are operating in the country,” Ms Wong said.
Prime Minister Marurai will address the international meeting later today. It’s his first international outing since becoming the new
prime minister of Cook Islands, taking over from Dr Robert Woonton…PNS (ENDS)
Japan and U.S dilute final text on waste management
14 JANUARY 2005 PORT LOUIS (Pacnews) --- Solomon Islands and Palau have buckled to pressures from Japan and the United
States and agreed to the removal of the word - World War II wrecks from the final text of the Plan of Action on waste management.
This was one of the sore points in the negotiation process, where Japan and the U.S lobbied that the text be watered down, according
to one of the Pacific’s senior negotiators.
He told PACNEWS the two Pacific states, who have most of the World War II wrecks in their waters have shown that removing these
wrecks are not a priority issue for them. This is despite raising serious concerns at the meeting.
The Pacific negotiator said Japan has also ably removed from the wording of the text any reference to ownership of the wrecks and
responsibility to any liability in the event of an oil leak causing environment pollution.
An assessment by the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) showed that there are more than 3,500 World War II
wrecks in Solomon Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Palau.
A SPREP governing council decision in 2003 said that any future work on the removal of World War II wrecks must be done
bilaterally – between the flag states and the Pacific nation.
A Pacific delegate said this SPREP decision has been a setback in the negotiation, where the U.S maintains that it will discuss the
issue on a bilateral and case-by-case basis with member countries.
Pacific countries want the flag states to remove oil from sunken wrecks and also take responsibility for the removal of the vessels from
their waters.
The final text on waste management now read …’recognising there’s a concern with the environmental implications of potential oil
leaks from sunken vessels to marine and coastal ecosystems of small island developing states and taking into account sensitivities
surrounding those vessels which are marine graves. Small Island developing states and relevant vessel owners should continue to
address the issue bilaterally on a case-by-case basis…. PNS (ENDS)
PACNEWS First Edition 14 January, 2005 Page 2 © Copyright PINA 2005
Pacific Islands News Association, Private Mail Bag, GPO, Suva, Fiji Islands Phone (679) 3315 522, Fax (679) 3315 379
E-mail pacnews@connect.com.fj Web Site www.pacnews.org