U.S. Ambassador defends Trump, turns on China

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 30 July 2017, 12:00AM

The United States of America’s new Ambassador to Samoa and New Zealand, Scott Brown, has defended the decision by the United States President, Donald Trump, to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement.

During his first media interview in Samoa, although the new Ambassador assured about the U.S. support to develop Pacific countries like Samoa, he wasn’t as confident when he was asked about Trump and climate change.

 “I don't believe that the President has closed the door on Paris,” said Mr. Brown. “He has felt that we’re not getting a fair deal paying billions of dollars.”

According to Mr. Brown, the U.S.A has “spent billions and billions dollars” and they “have been innovators for the last 50 years on these very important issues.” 

“We have all of the above approaches. We have wind, solar, nuclear, hydro, geo thermos … we’re not going to stop doing any of those things just because we did not sign on in an agreement in Paris,” he said.

“We believe there’s an opportunity to continue those company to company innovations as well as country to country innovations.” 

In 2015, America had signed the Paris Agreement under former President Barack Obama. But in President Trump announced the United States would withdraw from the deal.

“In order to fulfill my solemn duty to protect America and its citizens, the United States will withdraw from the Paris climate accord,” Trump said in a statement from the White House Rose Garden. 

The move by Trump has been strongly criticized by Pacific Leaders – including Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi. 

Back to Mr. Brown, he highlighted the importance of the good relationship between the U.S.A and China. 

But he accused China of destroying the coral reefs.

 “I know they are doing things in this region, it’s great and it’s important,” he said. “We have been doing them for over a century in our relationship with Samoa. We’ve been here since World War II obviously doing some wonderful things and we will continue to do that.”

He said China has completely “decimated corals, dumped concrete destroying sea life, destroyed the reefs that are quite frankly exceedingly vital to the survival in this part of the world.”

“Have you and anyone that you know said anything about that? We are getting a lot of grief for not signing an agreement when we’ve been leaders in this issue for 50 years." 

“We just don't agree with the way that is happening right now. We want to get a better and fair deal." 

“I don’t think that’s wrong. So I would ask you to ask the folks who are dealing with destroying the South China sea and the coral reefs which we all care so deeply about, like what’s up with that?”

 

ABOUT MR BROWN 

Mr. Brown is a prominent political leader, attorney, and National Guardsman with a long history of public service. 

In 2010, Ambassador Brown won a special election and served in the U.S. Senate for three years. During his time in the U.S. Senate, Ambassador-Designate Brown was known as the most bipartisan Senator and was the ranking member on the Armed Services Committee, as well as the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and was a member of the Veteran’s Committee and the Committee on Small Business.

As an elected official, he worked extensively on sex offender, child trafficking and other law enforcement issues to keep children and families safe. 

He began his public service career as an Assessor and Selectman for the Town of Wrentham, Massachusetts. 

He served as Massachusetts State Representative for the 9th Norfolk District for seven years and as State Senator for the Norfolk, Bristol, and Middlesex District for five. 

Ambassador-Designate Brown served in the enlisted and officer ranks of the Massachusetts and Maryland National Guard. He retired as a Colonel after 35 years of service, the last four of which he served as the Deputy to the Chief Counsel to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau at the Pentagon. While maintaining his law practice he was also a contracted contributor and analyst for Fox National News. 

Ambassador-Designate Brown worked as an attorney for Nixon Peabody, LLP, Boston, MA. He served on the Board of Directors and as an Advisor to Kadant, Inc., Westford, MA and as an advisor to 1st Alliance Lending, LLP, East Hartford, CT, an organization aimed at helping low income citizens keep their homes. He was an Advisor to SkyBridge Capital, New York, NY and to Ron Terwilliger Housing Foundation, Vienna, VA, and served as a board member for the USA 

Triathlon Foundation introducing youth to the sport of triathlon. He traveled extensively speaking before colleges, businesses, trade associations, and financial and government advocacy groups globally. 

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 30 July 2017, 12:00AM
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