"Samoa a maturing democracy": P.M. Fiame tells U.N.

By Alexander Rheeney 25 September 2022, 11:00AM

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa has spoken of last year's constitutional crisis in her address to the United Nations General Assembly, saying they were "difficult times", but the country's ability to move forward confirmed its status as a "maturing democracy".

Greeting the President of the 77th United Nations General Assembly, Csaba Körösi before proceeding with her address last Friday 23 September (Saturday Samoa Time), Fiame opened by talking about Samoa championing the rule of law and protecting human rights for decades in the lead up to the crisis last year.

"Many labelled the events that unfolded following our 2021 elections a constitutional crisis. While these were difficult times for Samoa, they were also key to our forward journey as a maturing democracy," she told the General Assembly.

"It divided our country and tested the key pillars of our society – our faith, our culture, and the rule of law.

"However, my delivering this statement today as the first female Prime Minister of Samoa and bringing about a change in government after four decades, are testament to the fact that the rule of law has prevailed. 

"Samoa today remains peaceful and stable; despite all the challenges we lived through. 

"My government will continue to safeguard the rights of all its citizens especially the most vulnerable, by strengthening appropriate social protection measures and prioritising assistance for those, most in need."

The Prime Minister said Samoa is focused on people-centred development which she indicated is critical in the implementation of the country's development agenda over the next five years.

In November last year the country presented its third Universal Periodic Review, with Fiame indicating that Samoa continues to maintain its "Christian values, unique culture, and traditions complement our human rights obligations and fundamental freedoms which we have committed to promote, respect, protect and fulfil."

In terms of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Prime Minister said the country is taking stock of the challenges that it faces in its bid to address post-COVID economic recovery, and urged all nations to work together towards peace and security, enhance resilience from climate change impacts, as well as achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda.

"The theme of this year’s General Debate “A watershed moment: transformative solutions to interlocking challenges” resonates with Samoa as we clearly recognise that the world is at a critical moment in the history of the United Nations due to complex and interconnected crises. 

"We need an effective United Nations to mobilize our collective efforts and to propel urgent actions to address these issues."

Fiame said achieving the SDGs should be driving force in all the countries' collective efforts over the next eight years and everyone should together "elevate our actions" with urgency to address climate emergency in order to avoid the planet being "lost to us and to future generations."

"Though far removed from the centres of conflict, resultant escalating fuel and food prices and threats of nuclear weapons use have reached our isolation," she said. 

"Yet no one empathises with the war, climate is waging on atoll islanders watching their maritime boundaries disappear fast with sea level rise."

According to the Prime Minister, the country stands ready to meet its obligations and commitments in achieving the SDGs, though there is a need to "strengthen capacity building at all levels, enhance data and information collection and storage through national and regional climate change portals as well as invest in robust systems and processes, including reporting and verification, and knowledge brokerage." 

 On the vulnerabilities facing Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Fiame said they face a "unique set" of vulnerabilities which continues to become an obstacle to achieving sustainable development, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated those vulnerabilities with many states being affected by the drop in international tourism as well as remittances.

"Consequently, the timely call for and endorsement of a multi-dimensional vulnerability index will allow for the inclusion of more than just income-based criteria to assess eligibility for concessional finance," she added.

As for climate change, the Prime Minister said it remains the number one priority for Samoa, as the scientific evidence "is clear and irrefutable". The situation is particularly challenging for Pacific communities, whom Fiame said face the main challenge of securing action for survival.

"For Pacific communities, the main challenge is securing action for survival, and we all need to shoulder our responsibilities and play our part. 

"The big polluters and emitters have a moral obligation and responsibility to meet their commitments ahead of COP27. 

"Why? Because they hold the key to our achieving the 1.5-degree promise of the Paris Agreement. We call on all parties to commit to more ambitious NDCs to meet the Paris Agreement promise as we are all part of the solution."

Samoa's global commitment is to implement the Paris Agreement which the Prime Minister described as "critical", and warned how limiting to 1.5 degrees will SIDS "continue to incur severe loss and damage".

"We must therefore promote recovery investments that are climate smart, resilient, and in line with net zero emissions by 2050," she said.

"We are at the doorstep of COP27, we must work diligently to generate solutions to meet expectations. 

"The achievement of a 50/50 split between mitigation and adaptation funding is of paramount importance to Samoa and SIDS. We should not put out the flame for Loss and Damage." 

The Prime Minister then warned that natural disasters will continue to claim lives and these was true of recent events that were "transboundary" and emphasised the point that no country is immune to the impacts of climate change. 

"These environmental threats will worsen. The triple planetary crisis is the alarm knell that is reminding us we are putting immeasurable pressure on the planet. 

"Our relentless need to extract resources from nature is causing disruptions propelling climate change, destroying nature, and raising pollution levels." 

The Prime Minister also spoke on the ocean and the Pacific and how island communities are connected to it as the "lungs of our planet".

"The ocean is in us and we are the ocean. It is the lifeblood of our Blue Pacific nations – the lungs of our planet," Fiame told the General Assembly. 

"But whilst its sustainable use provides a strategic pathway towards our sustainable development, we must also address the associated risks. 

"The health of the ocean is a key priority challenge. We must therefore continue to advance work on the ocean-climate nexus such as through empowering women, girls and youth with relevant knowledge and skills to contribute to the health of the ocean."

By Alexander Rheeney 25 September 2022, 11:00AM
Samoa Observer

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