British government commits $4.4M towards COP23 presidency

A major boost for Fiji today as the British government today committed $4.4 million towards Fiji’s Conference of Parties 23 presidency as Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama leads the charge to get a grand coalition for industrialized nations to reduce carbon emissions.

Speaking at Tailevu North College, British High Commissioner to Fiji Melanie Hopkins says the UK stands ready to assist Fiji.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama thanked Hopkins for Britain’s assistance in the wake of Cyclone Winston.

Bainimarama says amongst other things, this included a substantial part of donation in the relief efforts by Queen Elizabeth the second.

He also opened the upgraded buildings at Tailevu North College that were badly damaged after Cyclone Winston.

There was major upgrading of five buildings that lost roofs and walls and the government also funded the fixing of other buildings.

The total cost of the upgrade works is $850,000.

Bainimarama says now that this work is completed, he hopes this will finally put the trauma of what happened behind them and focus on their studies and say that we truly were stronger than Winston.

The Prime Minister says they are building better to higher standards.

Bainimarama says the rebuild is important and he issued the instruction that there should be no short cuts