The United Nations Resident Coordinator to Fiji, Sanaka Samarasinha, has congratulated the government officials for their respective appointments, reaffirming the UN’s commitment to continue working closely with Fiji and supporting the government to achieve sustainable development goals.
He highlighted this during his courtesy visit to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Strategic Planning National Development and Statistics, Professor Biman Prasad, Speaker of Parliament, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, and Attorney General Siromi Turaga.
Samarasinha says discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister were an important opportunity to highlight Fiji’s upcoming Voluntary National Review which will see Fiji assess and present progress made in the 2030 Agenda and in achieving the 17 SDGs.
He also says with Fiji’s last VNR presented back in 2019, this is an important year for the country as it highlights progress as well as gaps that remain in its journey to achieving the SDGs.
Meanwhile, Professor Prasad thanked the UN for its continued support to the people and government of Fiji, especially during COVID-19, and expressed enthusiasm to continue to work closely together.
In discussions with the AG, Samarasinha confirmed that the UN supports a first-of-its-kind national Judicial Training Centre in Fiji, technical support to official drafting, and strengthened programs through UNDP relating to human rights, law enforcement, and the judiciary, additionally conveying continued support towards the Fiji Parliament.
Samarasinha will meet Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka this afternoon.
