Voreqe Bainimarama

He was speaking at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in New York.

“Many developing countries do not have the financial resources to do what is needed to fulfil the goals. Many countries have the ideas, the plans and the resolve to act; but do not have the financial backing they need,” he said.

“If we can recognise that the lack of funding is what can hold many of us back, then it should be one of the key critical issues to be discussed in this summit. We have our goals. Now, how do we get there? We must make affordable financing for sustainable progress a reality.

In extending Fiji's well wishes to PNG on its 40th independence day celebration, the Fijian prime minister highlighted the progress the Melanesian state has made and the importance of its ties with Fiji, Fiji's Department of Information said Tuesday.

Since gaining independence, the two nations have enjoyed close relationship of mutual respect and friendship which was further cemented through their membership in the Melanesian Spearhead Group, Bainimarama told his PNG counterpart Peter O'Neill in the congratulatory message.

The pair were scheduled to both attend PIF in Port Moresby this week but Bainimarama is a no-show and Key said “it would have been nice” if he had turned up.

Key acknowledged it was Bainimarama's decision saying, “if he doesn't want to come he doesn't have to come”.

There are indications Bainimarama has been stirring up trouble by encouraging smaller Pacific states to thumb their noses at New Zealand and Australia this week.

Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says the PIDF has never been stronger and will sign a Suva Declaration, described as a common position on climate change, to take to a global meeting in Paris.

Jenny Hayward-Jones from the Lowy Institute says if the Pacific Islands Forum was to try to do a similar declaration, there could be confusion about which reflected the region.

Hayward-Jones says the timing of the PIDF move, a few days out from the Port Moresby meeting, makes a strong political statement.

The delegation will be led by Minister for Defence Timoci Natuva.

Other members are Commissioner of Police Ben Groenewald and Land Force Commander for the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Colonel Sitiveni Qiliho.

This is the first time the minister is undertaking an annual tour.

Previously it used to be bi-annual.

The delegation will first visit the Office of the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations in New York. It will then head for the Headquarters of Multinational Force and Observers in Rome.

Bainimarama was responding to a question in Parliament by Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa who asked whether the Fijian Government would consider a referendum given the overwhelming negative reaction to the plans to change the Fiji flag.

“Thank you Madam Speaker, the simple answer is no!” said Bainimarama.

In a joint statement, Ro Teimumu Kepa and Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu said while the Prime Minister's decision to extend the consultation period was welcomed, they hoped that at the end of the exercise, all views, including those who wanted to retain the current flag would be heard.

The SODELPA leaders said if most wanted a change, then so be it.

"But if the majority wants our flag retained, then we encourage the Prime Minister to listen to the wishes of the people as he has done on this occasion."

A statement issued from his office confirmed that more flag designs would be added to the 23 that were released on June 9.

"While we had originally set a deadline of Tuesday 30 June for the first phase of the flag selection process to be completed, the Government has decided to extend the period of consultation," he said.

"More choices are going to be offered over the next few weeks and months. And the closing date for design consultations will now be 31 December 2015. Cabinet and then Parliament will consider the new flag design when it convenes in 2016."

He said rugby was a key national sport and united a nation.

Speaking at the opening of the FRU development workshop at the Outrigger on the Lagoon Fiji Monday,  Bainimarama said Fiji was blessed with a massive amount of local talent and resources.

He said provincial union leaders were the ones who would eventually take the Fijian brand of rugby to another level.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama confirmed this to the Fiji Sun. He suggested Black Rock in Nadi as the best place to train the proposed peacekeeping force.
 
Bainimarama said this had been a topic discussed by the MSG Police Commissioners. The MSG Police Commissioners met in Honiara last month.
 
The Prime Minister said if this issue was brought up at the meeting in Honiara this week, Fiji would support it.