Yearbook 2019
Fiji. According to
CountryAAH, a Chinese firm's plans to build another major
tourist resort on the island of Malolo went down when Fiji's
environment ministry lifted the permit. The people have
complained about how the already extensive tourism industry
on the island destroys great natural values without the
income coming to the local community.
In June, a four-month long ban on catching several
different fish species was introduced. This is in response
to a sharp decline in fish stocks. Three months earlier, the
government had announced that a ban on fishing with nets
could become relevant. In July, a new system was introduced
to warn of high water levels and other natural disasters at
an early stage. The hope is to reduce the number of deaths
in the recurring floods. Technical assistance is provided by
the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
In September, Fiji launched the first country in the
world to fund climate change victims to find a new place to
live. The day after, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama
announced at the World Leaders for Nature event in New York
a plan to plant 30 million trees over a 15-year period as a
measure against climate change. Bainimarama's commitment to
the climate issue earned him international acclaim. At home,
however, the prime minister was not as popular in all camps.
Following an incident in Parliament in August, when
Bainimarama seized and pushed a member of the opposition, a
motion was made to suspend him from Parliament for two
years. The proposal was voted down by a majority of MEPs in
early September.
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