PM Tu‘ivakano commends Samoa Pathway [1]
Tuesday, September 2, 2014 - 20:58. Updated on Wednesday, September 3, 2014 - 09:21.
Tonga's Prime Minister Tu’ivakano has commended the draft outcome of the 3rd Small Island Developing States (SIDS) conference, which started yesterday September 1, in Apia, Samoa.
The draft outcome known as the “Samoa Pathway” (Small Island Developing States Accelerated Modalities of Action) is a 124 paragraph preamble that acknowledges commitments and challenges of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) across the world.
Among the commitments and challenges were climate change and sea-level rising, poverty eradication, sustainable development, marine resources and non-communicable diseases.
Tu’ivakano stated “The Samoa Pathway provides us with a blueprint on how best to pursue our joint commitments in order to achieve the sustainable development of SIDS and to ensure no one is left behind…the Samoa pathway accounts for our development aspirations with an actionable plan that will obtain the future we want for our islands and leaving no SIDS behind.”
“Tonga certainly looks forward on embarking on the Samoan pathway with much enthusiasm and vigour and is committed whole heartedly to its success.”
Tu’ivakano also stated the importance of international partnerships in the development of Small Island States
“SIDS sustainable development is not going to work without genuine and durable partnerships with our friends in the international community.”
“These partnerships must be defined by the by the principle of national ownership, mutual trust, transparency and accountability.”
“With our partners committed to this course as agreed to in our draft text, we are confident in our endeavours towards poverty eradications and sustainable developments given SIDS unique and particular vulnerabilities and circumstances with commitments to genuine and durable partnerships we can better address the adverse impacts of climate change in the terms of SIDS viability and its very survival.”
The 3rd Small Island Developing States conference is one of the biggest conferences to have occurred in a Pacific Island country, hosting 110 delegations from 110 countries. It finishes this Thursday September 4.