Your Royal Highnesses,
Distinguished Heads of State and Government,
Rt Honourable James Cleverly
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen
Talofa lava. Ua faiva ese le lupepe i lenei taeao fou, aua o lea ua o tatou feiloai i pu’e o manu ma malae o matagofie,e faafoi ai le viiga i le Atua Pule aoao, le Tama le Alo, ma le Agaga Paia, aua le faamoemoe i lenei taeao ua faapitoa mo atunuu o atumotu tau atiae ole lalolagi.
We feel honoured that at this memorable and historically important period for the United Kingdom, the Coronation of King Charles III; that, time is being allocated to highlight and focus the spotlight on the Small Islands Developing States.
I have the privilege to deliver this message on behalf of the Member Countries of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
We are heartened that SIDS remain high on the agenda of the Palace and of the United Kingdom who has remained a genuine and long-standing partner to small island developing states and AOSIS. The United Kingdom has consistently advocated and supported several key priorities of SIDS, including climate change, Loss and Damage as well as oceans governance.
Due to inherent vulnerabilities, SIDS are struggling with the unrelenting impacts of the multiple global crises such as climate change, COVID 19 recovery, rising debt and increased conflicts, creating additional challenges.
As we grapple with the increased negative impacts, which also threaten our very existence as small island nations, we will continue to rely on all partners including the United Kingdom to assist in mobilizing the much-needed urgent and ambitious climate action.
The SIDS situation is dire, but it is not all lost. If we are to ensure a future for SIDS, urgent action needs to be taken now to redress our negative practices as a global community, that are already severely impacting the natural flow of nature in our planet. We can no longer claim ignorance for we are seeing and experiencing the impacts of climate change on a daily basis. The science is clear and predicts even more alarming devastation if we do not remain on course for a 1.5 degree world.
Urgent attention must be given to our high and growing indebtedness and hence look forward to the outcome of the review of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index for SIDS and the reforming of the archaic financial institutions and architecture.
As SIDS begin preparing for the closure of the SAMOA Pathway, their sights are set on a more targeted, robust, measurable, and new sustainable development blueprint to be adopted at the Fourth United Nations Conference for SIDS (SIDS4) in the Summer of 2024 in Antigua and Barbuda. We are fully committed to addressing our priorities and associated challenges in a manner that would steer our development trajectory towards resilience. But we cannot do this alone, so we call on the entire community of nations, beginning with our Commonwealth family to lead the way.
It is a top priority for SIDS to address climate change, our oceans and seas, our biodiversity, our daunting food, energy and financial situations, and of course our data deficits, which are really impacting our ability to ensure rigorous analyses and assessment of our vulnerability in key thematic areas.
As we approach SIDS4 and the culmination of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, partnerships remain crucial. We are looking for genuine, durable and meaningful partnerships, and we are happy to see so many of you here today - current and potential partners. Enhanced partnerships bring together all key stakeholders including Governments, civil society, the private sector, the United Nations system, financial institutions and other key actors, and development partners, thus mobilizing all available resources to support SIDS priorities.
Finally yet importantly, my Country is honoured to Host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) next year on behalf of the Blue Pacific region. We will use the opportunity and this platform to amplify some of the key SIDS issues and challenges, and to support enhanced momentum towards the 4th United Nations Conference on SIDS in 2024.
As we gather to celebrate the official Crowning of King Charles III, we hope that his reign marks a new era of building a more resilient Commonwealth, as we collectively engage to address the issues, which continue to be of critical importance to SIDS . We also acknowledge the dynamic leadership of the late Queen Elizabeth II, as her rule spanned the era when many of our member states gained independence and Commonwealth membership.
I wish to once again, express our profound gratitude to the UK Government for this event, and we look forward to a more coherent and comprehensive approach to facilitate SIDS sustainable development, and also to our partnership to ensure a successful 4th SIDS Conference next year.
I end by conveying, our warm congratulations and best wishes on the Coronation of Their Majesties the King and Queen.
May God bless you all