SUVA, 20 FEBRUARY 2017 (FIJI SUN)— Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said the survival of the tourism industry was dependent on the plans reached in the Paris Agreement.

These plans were to reduce the carbon emissions that are causing global warming and the extreme weather events, rising seas and changing weather patterns, threatening lives worldwide.

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And as the country approached the anniversary of Cyclone Winston, in remembrance of the tremendous suffering endured by our people and the lives lost, Bainimarama, reminded the tourism industry stakeholders to stick to those plans.

“The country must stick to the plan reached in the Paris Agreement, not walk away from it,” Bainimarama said.

Speaking at the Sheraton Fiji Resort Saturday on Denarau Island, Bainimarama said: “I am very worried that the multilateral, decisive approach that we took in Paris to lower the global temperature is already being questioned.

“So as the ball is passed to me as COP president, I will be striving to hold the team together to move the global agenda forward and eventually secure victory for all 7.5 billion people on the planet.

“And I know that I can count on your support as I take the fight to the latest round of negotiations in Bonn in November and beyond.

Bainimarama spoke of today’s commemoration of the Cyclone Winston disaster and remembrance of all the Fijians who died.

“On Monday, we’ll be commemorating that dark day in our history with a national service of remembrance and thanksgiving in Suva and remembrance for those of our loved ones who died.

“Thanksgiving that much of our nation – including most of our tourism properties were spared and that our economy on which we all depend survived the onslaught of Winston.”

Bainimarama said that the tourism industry, in particular, had much to be grateful for.

“You really were stars a year ago – as the theme for this evening puts it – because most of you not only weathered the storm but cleaned up quickly and remained open for business,” he said.

“Our visitors kept coming and thanks also to the tourism industry, Fiji as a whole bounced back faster than anyone expected at the time.”

Bainimarama thanked the industry stakeholders and every Fijian who worked in the industry for the superb effort put in to help the country get back on its feet…..PACNEWS [/restrict]