I am fighting for the future of the Fijian people at the climate talks and the opposition knows why I am away.
Those are the words of Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama following the accusations levelled against him by Opposition Leader, Ro Teimumu Kepa that he is disrespecting parliament by not attending the sittings.
Ro Teimumu has also said that Bainimarama should resign if he cannot or does not want to attend parliament.
She says the Prime Minister is the head of the executive government and the executive government is answerable to Parliament.
Ro Teimumu says the Prime Minister has failed in his duty and obligations to attend or lead his team to parliament not only for the two sittings in April and May this year but also in the past.
The Opposition Leader says they wish to remind the Prime Minister that he holds several important portfolios such as Foreign Affairs, i‑Taukei Affairs, Immigration, and Sugar Industry.
She says the opposition has several important questions about the ministries, departments, bodies and laws that come under his responsibility and want him to be in attendance for next week’s sitting.
However she says Bainimarama has already indicated his absence from parliament next week.
When contacted by Fijivillage, Bainimarama said that the opposition have the common sense to know why he is away.
Bainimarama says “we are urging the world to act on climate change. Because without action, our children face a very bleak future.”
Bainimarama will also attend the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting in Japan.
According to the PALM Summit organizers, Japan and Pacific island countries are important, longstanding partners, sharing the Pacific Ocean and addressing common challenges. In order to further enhance this partnership with the Pacific Island countries, Japan has been hosting the Summit‑level meeting named Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting or PALM every three years since 1997.
Leaders openly discuss various issues such as the challenges regarding their small size and land distribution over a wide area, distance from major international markets, and the vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change.
The leaders from Fiji, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu attend the summit with the Japanese Prime Minister.
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