We have stated to UN and international forums on concerns about transit of chemical weapons in the Pacific - Smith

The Permanent Secretary of Home Affairs and Immigration, Mason Smith says they have stated very clearly to the United Nations and in all the international forums that what they are concerned about is the transit of chemical weapons in the Pacific region.

Smith highlighted this while officiating at the opening of the Sub-Regional Workshop on Chemical Weapons Convention Implementing Legislation held at the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat today.

While highlighting their concerns, the Permanent Secretary says this is an issue of safety not only for humans but also for food security in terms of anything that can happen during the transit.

Smith says it is important to gather Pacific neighbours to understand gaps or the challenges they face regarding the drafting of their legislation, and the region can share lessons learned from what Fiji has gone through and can be shared across the Pacific.

He says from this, they can also listen to them and hear their challenges on how they are dealing with chemical weapons.

He adds that it was earlier announced by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka that the region, be a zone of peace and they are doing everything they can to ensure that that zone of peace is operationalised through workshops to ensure that we have a safe and prosperous region for its citizens.