The size of a country does not matter when it comes to impacting the world, rather it is the volume of your message, says Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

While accepting this year’s Sustainable Development Leadership Award, Mr Bainimarama said it was more than a win for himself or for Fiji.

It is a win for small and developing states around the globe.

The award was given by The Energy and Resources Institute in India during the World Sustainable Development Summit in New Delhi.

Mr Bainimarama was not able to attend the summit today. He however sent a video message of his acceptance speech to organisers.

“Bula Vinaka from here in Fiji. I am sorry that I could not be there in New Delhi to accept this award in person,” Mr Bainimarama said.

“Our parliament is sitting this week and I have a commitment to the people of Fiji to update them on the status of our fight against climate change.

“The very fight that caught the attention of the energy and resources institute. I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive the 2019 sustainable development leadership award.

“And after Fiji’s COP23 Presidency it is clear that the once ignored voice of the climate vulnerable populations is being projected louder than ever.”

He said for a country like Fiji with a population of less than one million, to be recognised in this way by the institute based in a country of more than 1.3 billion people is proof that Fiji’s voice is being heard.

Mr Bainimarama commended the organisers of the summit for providing a platform for Fiji’s voice to continue to be heard.

He also acknowledged the institute and its director general Ajay Mathur for the great honour.

“I thank the Government of India for their long-standing support of Fiji,” he said.

“They have stood with us from the beginning as financial backers of COP23 Presidency and their assistance in other areas of Fiji’s development has helped bring our country into the position of strength and prosperity that we have today.

“I would like to thank our entire team of climate champions in Fiji.

“When it comes to climate change, we all share a common future. As we say in Fiji, we are all in the same canoe.”

The summit in New Delhi is from February 11 to 13 while Parliament sits from February 11 to 15.
Edited by Percy Kean

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