Fiji
Statement by H.E. Mr. Isikia Savua
Permanent Representative of Fiji to the United Nations during the High Level
Segment of the 12th Session of Commission on Sustainable Development
28-30 April 2004, United Nations Headquarters
Mr. Chairman,
Thank you for organizing CSD12 in a way that allows the thematic issues of water,
sanitation and human settlement to be thoroughly addressed. We support the holistic
approach to the issues to strengthen the focus of inter-dependability among them.
However, the three are integral components of daily activities happening together as a
single process. It is therefore important that a balance be found when addressing the
three areas.
In Fiji, increasing pressure is being placed on water supply to satisfy its 800,000
population. This is exacerbated by urbanization and the mushrooming squatter
settlements. Recent statistics show that about 82,000 people live in 182 squatter
settlements with an average size of six per family.
Past water development projects have concentrated on the upgrading or extension of
existing water supply infrastructure. This supply driven approach is very costly for both
the donor and the recipient country and has not resulted in safe water supply for the
bigger urban centers in most of the Pacific Islands.
Most water supply systems operate at the end of collapse and, contrary to common
knowledge, the reason is usually not the insufficiency of water but as a consequence of
the water supply delivery systems in the region losing mo re water through leakage and
wastage than what they actually deliver to customers. We are working through our
regional organizations towards strengthening our integrated water resources strategies
and plans.
CSD12?s focus on partnership between developed and developing countries hopefully
carries with it the promise of realizing the goals of Agenda 21, MDG, JPOI, the
Monterrey Consensus and of importance to SIDS to monitor the sustainable development
of BPOA+10.
Fiji has always advocated trade as the engine of sustained growth and recognizes water
security as absolutely vital to underpin our national opportunities to enter into a
successful trading regime. Deepening of market access for higher volume of export is an
essential priority to fulfill the pillars of sustainable development. In this regard, while aid
provides a leg up, continued reliance on aid can result in a handout mentality and
development paralysis. In terms of monitoring performance, we look forward to using
the new Environmental Vulnerability Index developed for global application to monitor
our growth.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Permanent Representative of Fiji to the United Nations during the High Level
Segment of the 12th Session of Commission on Sustainable Development
28-30 April 2004, United Nations Headquarters
Mr. Chairman,
Thank you for organizing CSD12 in a way that allows the thematic issues of water,
sanitation and human settlement to be thoroughly addressed. We support the holistic
approach to the issues to strengthen the focus of inter-dependability among them.
However, the three are integral components of daily activities happening together as a
single process. It is therefore important that a balance be found when addressing the
three areas.
In Fiji, increasing pressure is being placed on water supply to satisfy its 800,000
population. This is exacerbated by urbanization and the mushrooming squatter
settlements. Recent statistics show that about 82,000 people live in 182 squatter
settlements with an average size of six per family.
Past water development projects have concentrated on the upgrading or extension of
existing water supply infrastructure. This supply driven approach is very costly for both
the donor and the recipient country and has not resulted in safe water supply for the
bigger urban centers in most of the Pacific Islands.
Most water supply systems operate at the end of collapse and, contrary to common
knowledge, the reason is usually not the insufficiency of water but as a consequence of
the water supply delivery systems in the region losing mo re water through leakage and
wastage than what they actually deliver to customers. We are working through our
regional organizations towards strengthening our integrated water resources strategies
and plans.
CSD12?s focus on partnership between developed and developing countries hopefully
carries with it the promise of realizing the goals of Agenda 21, MDG, JPOI, the
Monterrey Consensus and of importance to SIDS to monitor the sustainable development
of BPOA+10.
Fiji has always advocated trade as the engine of sustained growth and recognizes water
security as absolutely vital to underpin our national opportunities to enter into a
successful trading regime. Deepening of market access for higher volume of export is an
essential priority to fulfill the pillars of sustainable development. In this regard, while aid
provides a leg up, continued reliance on aid can result in a handout mentality and
development paralysis. In terms of monitoring performance, we look forward to using
the new Environmental Vulnerability Index developed for global application to monitor
our growth.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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