BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Former Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Manasseh Sogavare said that the country’s strength lies in how a leader addresses issues.

Sogavare expressed this during the recent Motion of Special Adjournment in parliament, when reflecting on forthcoming Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele’s international engagements.

“I can share some of the comments that the Leader of the Opposition made on the decision to attend the overseas engagement. I may rest squarely on the Prime Minister when he is personally invited to attend, of course, the country’s voice needs to be heard during those meetings,” said Sogavare.

He said that some of the issues that will be discussed are issues that the small island states feel very strongly about.

“When it comes to oceans and climate change, they take it very lightly, a little bit. But this is a serious issue when it comes to small island states like Kiribati, Tuvalu and other island states,” he said.

He said that half of Tuvalu will not be seen or disappear in the next five years or ten years.

“We will not see it. So that’s how serious some of these issues are. And our strength, Mr. Speaker, lies in our voice. We as price takers, all we can do, Mr. Speaker, is to join our voices together and continue to talk and talk and talk,” he said.

“And whether at the end of the day, what big countries heard of our voice, of course, it is important that we continue. So, this is just to underscore the importance of attending some of these meetings,” he said.

“But it’s important that the country’s voice continues to be heard about these very important issues,” said Sogavare.

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