Prime Minister Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama said Fiji and its people, like all small developing island states, are among the first victims of contemporary global crises such as the financial and economic crisis, the swine flu pandemic, and most dramatic of all, the phenomenon of climate change.
He made the comment at the 64th United Nations General Assembly in New York on the weekend.
“ In small economies such as ours, these global events have a very real effect on the daily livelihoods of our people,” he said.
“ For our part, we have attempted to respond to some of these crises by making policy changes and adjustments, encouraging our people to grow their own food, and discouraging food imports wherever possible.Over the last two years the size of the public service has been rationalized. We have maintained a very streamlined Cabinet structure and significantly controlled government operational costs.
Commodore Bainimarama said the 64th Session of the General Assembly will be addressing important contemporary issues of interest to all member nations.
“ These issues include seeking out effective responses to global crises, strengthening multi-lateralism and dialogue on international peace, security and development. These issues are indeed of critical importance to my own country, a small island developing state, which has been enriched by its membership and participation in the United Nations,” he said.