Antigua and Barbuda – The 4th International Conference on Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) was officially opened on 27th May 2024. Hosted in the Caribbean country of Antigua and Barbuda, the SIDS Conference is held once every 10 years. The 3rd and last SIDS Conference was hosted by the Pacific SIDS in Samoa, in 2014.
This year’s Conference will adopt The Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) – a Renewed Declaration for Resilient Prosperity, which sets out the sustainable development aspirations of small islands over the next 10 years and the support required from the international community to achieve them.
Fiji’s delegation to the Conference is led by the Minister for Rural, Maritime and National Disaster Management, Hon. Minister Sakiasi Ditoka. He is supported by the Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Filipo Tarakinikini, Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Sivendra Michael and senior officials from the Ministry of Rural and Maritime and National Disaster Management, National Planning, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
Participating at the General Debate, Minister Ditoka commended the ongoing efforts and acknowledged urgent needs of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in addressing sustainable development.
“Since the adoption of the Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA) in 1994, the Mauritius Strategy of Implementation (MSI) in 2005, and the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway in 2014, SIDS have consistently built upon these frameworks to inform and progress our sustainable development priorities.”
Minister Ditoka highlighted the significance of the next ten years for SIDS, in light of emerging and existing economic, social, environmental, and geopolitical challenges, the sustainable development. He further added that, in charting the course towards resilient prosperity, SIDS must ask, where are we, where do we want to get to, and how do we get there?
“SIDS face significant risks from frequent and severe climate-induced disasters, which have multiplied fivefold in the last 50 years. By 2050, around 240 Fijian coastal communities will be displaced due to sea-level rise. To date, we have relocated six communities and are in the process of relocating two more.”
Minister Ditoka called on the SIDS to elevate their ambitions, and to support it through concrete actions, implemented with diligence and urgency in order to safeguard our collective future. “Focusing on debt sustainability, including linking vulnerability finance to debt, must be a key consideration for global finance tailored to the needs of SIDS.”
The creation of a dedicated Loss and Damage fund under the UN Climate Convention is testament to SIDS’ consistent calls for equitable access to finance.
Minister Ditoka emphasized the need for SIDS to be more affirmative on the language around phasing out fossil fuels in a just and equitable manner. He also requested SIDS to support the co-Chairs led process in New York to conclude the MVI resolution by the agreed timeline this year.
“Let us seize this moment as an opportunity to galvanize the full support of the international community. Establishing public-private sector partnerships and leveraging opportunities in key sectors such as tourism, fisheries, trade, connectivity, health, women, and youth is important.”
Fijian Delegation at the 4th International Conference on Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) held in Antigua and Barbuda
(L to R) Director National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), Ms. Vasiti Soko, Director Multilateral Affairs for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Ms. Keleni Seruvatu, Minister for Rural, Maritime and National Disaster Management, Hon. Minister Sakiasi Ditoka, Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Sivendra Michael, Acting Head of Strategic Planning Office, National Development and Statistics, Ms. Poonam Singh.
(L to R) Acting Head of Strategic Planning Office, National Development and Statistics, Ms. Poonam Singh, Director Multilateral Affairs for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ms. Keleni Seruvatu, Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Filipo Tarakinikini, Minister for Rural, Maritime and National Disaster Management, Hon. Minister Sakiasi Ditoka, Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Sivendra Michael, Director National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), Ms. Vasiti Soko, Fiji’s High Commissioner to United Kingdom (UK), H.E Jovilisi Suveinakama, and Principal Foreign Service Officer (PFSO) for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Salaseini Tagicakibau.
(From left)Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Sivendra Michael, Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Filipo Tarakinikini, and Minister for Rural, Maritime and National Disaster Management, Hon. Minister Sakiasi Ditoka.
