Samoa PM addresses UN General Assembly

Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has reminded world leaders of the uncertainties that exist and are threatening the global population.

At the United Nations General Assembly today, Tuilaepa spoke of the losing battle to free the world from poverty.

Instability, conflicts, terrorism and the threat to the environment were also highlighted in his address.

“Climate change is an existential threat. Allow me to pause and offer our sincere condolences to the governments and peoples of all the countries that have suffered from the recent devastation of hurricanes and earthquakes.”

Tuilaepa also spoke of the threat from North Korea.

”Mr President, We cannot help but watch with trepidation and uneasiness the global dynamics nudging our world perilously close to a potential catastrophe of unimaginable proportions. As small island Pacific countries, we are no longer protected by our isolation - we are bystanders but with the greatest to lose in the unfolding power drama being played out in the Korean Peninsula. We pray for visionary leadership with sound moral judgment on both sides to ensure we give 'peace a chance'.”

On the issue of climate change, Tuilaepa said like other global challenges, it cross borders seamlessly.

“It has no respect for sovereignty and does not discriminate countries between rich or poor. Its dire consequences are real including those who remain in denial.”

“Climate change is a perpetual priority issue for Samoa and our Pacific region.  In  our  small  islands,  as  witnessed  recently,  natural catastrophes can decimate an entire country bringing with them great pain and upheaval to peoples' lives as well as set back the national economy for years. And we know this from repeated past experience,”Tuilaepa said.

“Our islands limited resources and the lack of adaptive capacity makes the burden of rehabilitation a mammoth undertaking. While we applaud the resilience of our people to bounce back from any major natural disaster, the scars of these natural phenomena take years to heal and recover from. And if it's any consolation to our island states, even some of the well-resourced developed countries are still trying to recover and rehabilitate from the impacts of catastrophes which devastated their economies.”

     

Photo by UN Media Caption: Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi addresses the UN General Asembly 

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