Bainimarama invites climate change sceptic to Fiji

PACIFIC – Low-lying island countries have called on US President-elect Donald Trump to honour his country’s commitments under the Paris climate change agreement.

Trump said during his campaign that he would cancel the agreement, which requires countries to submit non-binding climate pledges every five years, on the grounds that it “gives foreign bureaucrats control” over US energy use.

The possibility of a US withdrawal from the accord has overshadowed this week’s COP22 Climate Change Conference in Marrakesh, where the implementation of last year’s agreement is being discussed.

Leaders of vulnerable countries warned about the dangers this could bring to them, and appealed to Trump to have a “change of heart” on the issue.

Fiji’s Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama called on Trump to change his stated position on the agreement, which he said would be “disastrous for every person on earth.”

“I want to make a special appeal to the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, for a personal change of heart and a public change of policy on the issue of climate change.

“Sir, you have said that you do not believe that climate change is man-made. I am especially alarmed by reports that you intend to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, which would be disastrous for every person on earth.

“I appeal to you to show the leadership that the rest of the world expects the United States to take on this issue.”

Bainimarama also extended a formal invitation to Trump, calling on him to “see for himself” the impacts of climate change.

Cyclone Winston, the strongest tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere, struck Fiji in February this year killing 44 people.

“Please come as a matter of urgency to see for yourself the devastating impact that rising sea levels and extreme weather events are already having on our peoples and on our way of life …

“President-elect Trump, I formally invite you to Fiji and promise you the warmest of welcomes.

“We will show you how we are already having to move entire communities out of the way of the rising seas and you can meet the families of the 44 Fijians who were killed last February.”

Marshall Islands’ President Hilda Heine said the Paris agreement’s goal of limiting temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century is a matter of survival for many Pacific nations.

“The survival of my island home is at stake,” she said.

“We expect the continued leadership and engagement from all who led the way to Paris including the United States.

“To achieve this ambition means fully implementing the Paris Agreement and the promises made by all countries and going further.

More than 100 countries have now ratified the Paris agreement, including Australia following last week’s announcement. The accord came into force last month and covers around 70 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, with the United States accounting for 15 per cent of the world’s emissions. - ABC/AP Chaos in Samoa’s police force

SAMOA – Samoa’s cabinet has confirmed its decision to suspend Assistant Police Commissioner Samoa Mulinu’u Mulinu’u.

The assistant commissioner has been suspended because government was not informed that the Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil was to be arrested on Monday.

Commissioner Keil is facing new charges including incitement to murder.

Asked about the suspension of the nation’s police chief, Acting Prime Minister,Tuitama Dr Talalelei Tuitama said the decision was in line with usual government policy.

“The charges against the commissioner are very serious and he should be suspended pending the investigation against him,” he said. “That was the decision made and the recommendation from the Attorney General’s Office to suspend him.”

Meanwhile a commission of inquiry has been called to review assistant commissioner Mulinu’u’s conduct as a police officer.

A scuffle reportedly broke out among police officers at the central police station when Commissioner Keil was arrested over new charges.

In a press statement on Monday, the cabinet said it had also suspended the police commissioner from his duties, pending a court decision on the new charges against him.

Those charges, originally brought by the police, have been transferred to the National Prosecution Office for processing and action.

The duties of the police commissioner will be rotated amongst serving assistant commissioners until further notice.

The Police Service Act states that an inquiry may be called in to the performance or capacity of a commissioner or assistant commissioner.

The Commission of Inquiry will subsequently extend to a thorough review of Samoa’s police services.

The inquiry will reportedly assess any breaches of duty or incapacity and will review behaviour that has negatively affected the confidence of the community in the police service.

Cabinet has also reaffirmed protocols for the use and safekeeping of firearms by Samoa police.

Any request and approval of the use of firearms must be considered first by the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Attorney General and Director of the National Prosecution Office.

- PNC sources