Government Delegation Heads to 79th UNGA as PM Manele Focuses on Key Domestic Legislation
By Sharon Nanau
A government delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Hon. Peter Shanel Angovaka is heading to New York for the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The UNGA is set to take place from 22nd to 28th September.
Prime Minister, Jeremiah Manele will not attend this year’s UNGA.
Prime Minister Manele during a media conference today told local media that pressing domestic legislative work on several important government bills are the reasons for his non-attendance at the UNGA.
“The government for national unity and transformation is serious about implementing its legislative program as announced by the Governor General His Excellency at the opening of the second meeting of the 12th parliament. We have several key legislations that will create the conducive environment for transformational change, these legislations are so important they must be tabled this year,” he said.
Hon Manele explains as the government leader domestic issues will always take precedent over international meetings and agendas.
“It is my duty to ensure I must personally lead the efforts to prioritize the preparation and completion of these transformational legislations with my respective ministers to ensure they are tabled in parliament this year.”
Several government ministers will be attending the UNGA as a series of high-level meetings will be held.
Hon Manele said the inclusion of his ministers in the UNGA delegation is important as meetings to be held are of importance to the country’s development.
“The high-level meetings include the high-Level Meeting on Summit of the Future, Addressing the existential threats posed by sea level rise, Meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and HLM to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons,” he said.
The ministers will be participating in meetings relevant to their Ministries.
Other related sideline events, including bilateral, regional, intergovernmental and interorganizational meetings to be attended by the ministers include the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting, the Alliances of Small Islands Leaders States Meeting, G7+ High Level Summit and the Least Developing Country Ministerial meeting.
Prime Minister Manele said Solomon Islands will be well represented and actively participate in the 79th UNGA.
SIBC news understands the associated cost to the UNGA is around 2-million Solomon dollars as this also includes the Prime Minister’s visit to Abu Dhabi later this month.
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