Prime Minister and incoming COP23 President, Voreqe Bainimarama, was traditionally farewelled by the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs at Nasova, Suva, yesterday.

In his presentation Ratu Aca Mataitini said Fiji was proud of him in accepting the COP23 presidency and wished him well in his trip to Bonn, Germany, next week.

Ratu Aca said in his presentation that the Prime Minister’s selection was from God and he would be leaving for Bonn with God’s blessing and from the people of Fiji.

“We wish you well and pray for God’s blessing on you while chairing the COP23 meet,” Ratu Aca said.

A traditional yaqona ceremony followed where the cup bearer was the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, Naipote Katonitabua. The PM said he accepted the COP23 presidency with the support of Germany.

He said he did not expect the farewell because he was just told that the staff of the Ministry of the iTaukei Affairs was preparing a morning tea.

He thanked Mr Katonitabua and his staff for the farewell and Reverend Joseva Tikonatabua from the Methodist Church of Fiji for blessing the ceremony.

At the COP23 meeting the PM said he would be pushing for the Paris Agreement calling for global warming to be kept well under two degrees over that of the industrial age and as close as possible to 1.5 degrees.

He said at Bonn he would not only be representing Fiji but all the small island developing states.

The COP23 presidency he said provided a platform for the Pacific region to have a voice.

The Prime Minister said a decisive action to limit global warming must be taken.

In the Pacific he said some islands would sink in 30 to 50 years time and this would also happen to some areas in Fiji. 

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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