PRIME Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, will represent the country at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting in New York this month.
He announced his attendance last week when moving a motion for the special adjournment of the parliament to Monday 7th November.
“I will lead a Solomon Islands delegation to the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York,” he said.
Parliament is now adjourned for about eight weeks to allow government officials to work on the Appropriation 2023 budget and the on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommendation reports.
Deputy Prime Minister, Manasseh Maelanga, will travel to Japan later this month as well for the state funeral of the late former prime minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated in July.
Prime Minister Sogavare said the break will allow him and his delegation to travel overseas for the top global leaders’ summit
Whilst in New York, Prime Minister Sogavare, is expected to address the Assembly and raise issues affecting the country.
He could not attend last year’s UNGA due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
According the UNGA website, the 77th session (UNGA 77) will bring together world leaders, civil society activists, private sector players, and young people from around the world for two weeks of speeches, summits, debate, and dialogue in New York City, starting this week September 13.
This year’s UNGA will take place against a backdrop of complex, interconnected crisis, conflict, climate change, and COVID-19 have exacerbated inequality, poverty, and hunger across the planet, particularly among the most vulnerable populations.
The need for global cooperation is more urgent than ever. The world is facing a stark choice: break down or breakthrough.
As the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, put it in his remarks to the General Assembly in August: “Business as usual will almost certainly guarantee a future of constant crisis and devastating risks.”
It is understood the Office of Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) will soon announce the date of the Prime Minister’s departure.
By MOFFAT MAMU
