Louise Duertre, a representative from the Australian Embasssy, attended the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) Project in Kosrae. They commemorated the completion of the new road being climate proof. Below is the speech that was read on behalf of Ambassador Beven, and that was broadcasted on the radio. Gov. Jackson, Vice-Pres. Alik, Mr Latu Deputy Director of SPREP, Mr Ordonez US Chargé, Speaker Siba, Mayor George, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen: It is my honour to convey to you today this message from Dr Terry Beven, Australian Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia. Dr Beven says: “Please allow me to apologise for not being able to be with you today. When Simpson Abraham came to my office to convey Governor Jackson’s invitation, my heart sank – because the Governor and people of Kosrae received my wife and me so warmly in March, because we truly feel that Kosrae is our ‘home away from home’ in Micronesia, and because I knew I would be so busy at this time that it would be difficult to be with you. I am disappointed I have not been able to properly return the kindness of the people of Kosrae on this occasion, and promise to do so in future. “I read somewhere once that the Creator, Whom the people of Kosrae most devoutly acknowledge each week, can perhaps be imagined as being so delighted with this Earth that like a child with a shiny toy He cannot stop turning it and admiring it from all angles. If so, I think His gaze must have paused many times on the island of Kosrae, which is among the brightest of jewels adorning the Earth’s surface. “What has been entrusted to us is not ours to neglect, but a precious gift to enjoy—to nurture and manage—and to pass to future generations. The people of Kosrae recognise this. Kosrae has become a leader in environmental management and careful conservation of natural resources. The Kosrae Government and Kosrae Island Resource Management Authority are to be congratulated for strongly supporting the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change project, for carrying the Kosraean Climate Change Bill, and for bringing forward the updated Shoreline Management Plan. While many struggle to cope with living in fragile environments subject to climate change, Kosrae has been at the forefront of raising community awareness and seeking tools to build local resilience and address climate change mitigation. The benefits of that forward-thinking and planning are here today to see: upgrading Kosrae’s roads including inland roads helps not just with climate change adaptation and inland relocation of infrastructure and communities; it also improves access to agricultural land and provides opportunities to build a more prosperous and self-reliant future. “Australia is pleased to have been able to provide support for the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change project. There are many demands on our resources, and responding to calls to assist countries to achieve their goals is often not easy. There is so much Australia would like to do but only so much we can do. That’s another reason why we prefer when possible to join other donors, and why we have been part of this project. Please accept Australia’s congratulations. Let us all look forward to a bright future. Thank you.”
Posted on: Mon, 02 Jun 2014 05:21:42 +0000
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