Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says before he went to commission the RFNS Puamau on Saturday, he went to visit former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama in prison as it's a project that Bainimarama had been working on during his time as Commander of the Fiji Navy.
Rabuka says he asked the Commissioner of Corrections to pay a courtesy visit to his predecessor on Friday to acknowledge him for all the things he has done.
While speaking in parliament, Rabuka highlighted the new Fiji Navy vessel, RFNS Puamau was handed to Fiji under the Vuvale Partnership with the Australian Government.
He says the new Vuvale Partnership elevates our shared commitments to tackling climate change and focusing on our economic entry partnership.
Rabuka says the review of the Vuvale Partnership was carried out by senior officials of the two governments in September 2023.
He says the objective of the review was to re-align the approach, the content and the desired outcomes of the Fiji and Australia relationship by reflecting on the vision, goals and priorities of the new government of both nations.
He says the Australian Prime Minister and he signed the updated Vuvale Partnership on the 20th of October last year and on the day of signing, Australia granted Fiji FJ$100 million in budget support.
Rabuka adds this is in addition to the earlier budget support of FJ$81 million for the 2023-2024 national budget last year in June.
While responding to the ministerial statement, Leader of Opposition, Inia Seruiratu says Australia is a big contributor to fossil fuel exports, and that cannot be denied.
He says we need to tell them that they need to slow down on fossil fuel as this is a key to our survival and the Pacific.
He adds this will enable us in terms of our collective action towards the implementation and the achievement of the Paris Agreement.
Seruiratu also acknowledged the Prime Minister for acknowledging the work of the previous government towards the Vuvale Partnership.
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