HON. PM’s REMARKS- SPEECH – VAKA FORUM FOR MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT & PERMANENT SECRETARIES: (16-03-2026)

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Salutation

  • Honorable Speaker Sir,
  • Honorable Members of Parliament – Cabinet Ministers, Assistant Ministers & Opposition Members
  • Permanent Secretaries and senior government officials;
  • Founder of the Pacific Recycling Foundation, Mr. Amitesh Deo & Team
  • Ladies & Gentlemen

Ni sa bula vina’a and a very good morning to you all.

Acknowledgements

  1. I first wish to acknowledge the Traditional Leaders and custodians of the Land of Suva; ‘Ki Nadonumai, vei kemuni na Turaga na Tui Suva, and their chiefs, past, present and emerging, and offer our respects and gratitude for their custodianship of this land since it became the seat of our then Colonial, and now National Capital since 1882.’
  2. I acknowledge the Honourable Ministers present here today; the Honourable Leader of the Opposition—whose presence affirms that the protection of our environment is a matter of national priority beyond political lines. Also to the Pacific Recycling Foundation to convene this important forum – the Founder Mr. Amitesh Deo, together with the entire PRF team for their continued dedication to advancing the recycling movement in Fiji.
  3. Today’s VAKA Forum is significant not only for the recycling movement, but also for the way we approach national leadership, governance and collective problem solving. It provides an important opportunity for reflection on how Fiji manages its waste, how our policies align with national priorities, and how we strengthen partnerships to safeguard both our environment and our economy.

Recognising the Grassroots Recycling Movement

  1. For many years, conversations on waste management have taken place within formal policy spaces—government offices, corporate boardrooms and international conferences. These platforms remain important because they shape policies, mobilise resources and guide national priorities.
  2. However, we must also acknowledge that many of the most practical and durable solutions to Fiji’s waste challenges have emerged directly from our communities.
  3. Across Fiji, grassroots recyclers, community organisations and local leaders have been quietly advancing responsible waste practices long before recycling became a mainstream policy discussion. Through collection initiatives, education programmes and community mobilisation, they have contributed significantly to building a culture of recycling across the country.
  4. Their work has reduced waste entering the environment, created livelihoods and strengthened community awareness. These achievements demonstrate that environmental protection and stewardship cannot rely solely on legislation—it requires strong partnerships between communities, civil society, the private sector and government.
  5. This forum therefore sends an important signal that national leadership is ready not only to support these efforts but also to listen and learn from those working directly on the ground.

VAKA – Voices, Alliances, Knowledge and Action

  1. The VAKA Forum embodies an important principle for national sustainable development.
  2. VAKA represents Voices, Alliances, Knowledge and Action.
  3. It is about ensuring that voices from communities are heard in national discussions; building alliances across government, civil society and the private sector; strengthening knowledge through evidence and experience; and translating that knowledge into meaningful and practical action.
  4. Through this approach, the forum becomes more than a dialogue—it becomes a platform for strengthening national leadership on waste management and environmental stewardship – shaping a coordinated national response to waste management challenges.

A Platform for National Reflection and Policy Alignment

  1. The VAKA Forum offers a valuable opportunity for national reflection, policy alignment and coordinated leadership.
  2. On one side are policymakers, legislators and administrators responsible for shaping national strategies and regulatory frameworks. On the other side are communities and grassroots recyclers who confront the realities of waste management every day—those who collect recyclables, organise community clean-ups and promote responsible waste practices in settlements, schools and neighbourhoods.
  3. These individuals possess practical knowledge that cannot always be captured through reports or statistics. Their experiences reveal how waste moves through our communities, how behaviours change, and what solutions work on the ground.
  4. If Fiji is serious about addressing its waste management challenges, then this knowledge must inform national decision making. Listening to grassroots experience is not simply an act of consultation—it is essential to designing policies that are practical, inclusive and sustainable.

Government’s Commitment to Integrated Waste Management

  1. At the national level, Government remains committed to strengthening Fiji’s approach to waste management as part of our broader development agenda.
  2. Waste management is not only an environmental issue—it is also a matter of public health, economic opportunity and national resilience.
  3. It affects the quality of our water systems, the health of our communities and the sustainability of key sectors such as tourism and agriculture. At the same time, it presents opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship and employment through recycling and circular economy initiatives.
  4. In recognition of this, Government is advancing work towards a strengthened Integrated Waste Management Strategy that will guide national efforts in waste reduction, recycling and responsible disposal. This strategy seeks to ensure that policies, infrastructure investments and community initiatives are coordinated across national and municipal systems.

Strengthening the Legislative and Regulatory Framework

  1. Alongside this strategy, Government is also strengthening the legal and regulatory framework that governs waste management in Fiji.
  2. Amendments to the Litter Act, together with supporting regulations, have been developed by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and are currently undergoing legal vetting. Once completed, these reforms will be tabled in Parliament for consideration and debate.
  3. The objective is to strengthen enforcement and reinforce the principle that protecting Fiji’s environment is a shared national responsibility.
  4. In addition, Government is advancing work on Container Deposit Regulations, which will introduce a structured system whereby beverage containers carry a refundable deposit that can be reclaimed when returned through designated collection points. Experience from many countries shows that such systems significantly improve recycling rates and reduce litter.
  5. In Fiji, we have already seen encouraging results through initiatives such as the Return and Earn programme, which demonstrates that when recyclable materials are assigned value, communities respond positively.
  6. The Container Deposit framework will build upon this experience by creating a national system that encourages accountability across the entire value chain—from producers and distributors to retailers and consumers.

Alignment with International Environmental Commitments

  1. Fiji’s efforts to strengthen waste management and environmental protection are also aligned with our international commitments under several global environmental conventions and treaties.
  2. As a responsible member of the international community, Fiji continues to uphold its obligations under frameworks such as the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes.
  3. These agreements recognise that pollution, waste management and environmental degradation are global challenges that require coordinated national action.
  4. By strengthening recycling systems, promoting circular economy practices and reducing waste entering our ecosystems, Fiji contributes meaningfully to global efforts to protect biodiversity, reduce pollution and build climate-resilient societies.
  5. Our national policies must therefore continue to align with these international commitments while reflecting Fiji’s unique island context and development priorities.

Advancing the Blue Pacific Vision and the 2050 Strategy

  1. At the regional level, Fiji’s efforts are also guided by our collective Pacific commitment to a sustainable Blue Pacific Continent.
  2. This vision is articulated through the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, which calls for stronger regional cooperation to safeguard the Pacific Ocean and ensure that development across our region remains sustainable, resilient and inclusive.
  3. The strategy emphasises integrated ocean governance, environmental stewardship and sustainable resource management as key pillars for the future of the Pacific.
  4. Addressing waste and pollution—particularly plastics and marine debris—is central to this regional agenda. By strengthening recycling systems, improving waste management and promoting circular economy approaches, Fiji contributes directly to the collective efforts of Pacific Island countries to protect our shared ocean.
  5. This also aligns with regional environmental frameworks such as the Waigani Convention, which aims to control hazardous waste movements and protect Pacific island environments from pollution.
  6. Through these commitments, Fiji continues to demonstrate leadership in advancing a sustainable and resilient Blue Pacific.

Advancing the Ocean of Peace – Protecting Our Environment

  1. Fiji’s environmental stewardship is also closely linked to our broader foreign policy vision guided by the Ocean of Peace
  2. This concept, championed by Government, promotes the Pacific Ocean as a domain of peace, cooperation and shared prosperity.
  3. Peace, however, must also extend to the way we treat our environment.
  4. Promoting peace to the environment means ensuring that our oceans, rivers and ecosystems are protected from pollution, unmanaged waste and environmental degradation.
  5. In this regard, responsible waste management and recycling contribute directly to the vision of an Ocean of Peace—an ocean that is clean, healthy and sustainably managed for the benefit of present and future generations.
  6. Protecting our environment is therefore not only an ecological responsibility but also a commitment to regional stability, sustainable development and intergenerational equity.

Advancing a Circular Economy for Fiji

  1. These efforts form part of Fiji’s broader effort to develop inclusive and evidence-informed waste management and circular economy strategies.
  2. A circular economy approach recognises that materials should not simply be discarded as waste but recovered and reused wherever possible.
  3. Through recycling and resource recovery, we create opportunities for employment, support small enterprises and reduce the financial and environmental costs associated with landfill disposal.
  4. For Fiji, this represents both an environmental responsibility and an economic opportunity.

Protecting Fiji’s Environment and National Prosperity

  1. Protecting our environment is also fundamental to Fiji’s economic resilience.
  2. Tourism remains a cornerstone of our national economy. Visitors travel to our islands to experience the natural beauty that we are privileged to safeguard.
  3. Maintaining clean coastlines, healthy rivers and vibrant ecosystems is therefore not only an environmental priority—it is also an investment in the long-term sustainability of our economy.
  4. As custodians of this environment, we must ensure that our communities reflect the pride we take in our country.

Strengthening Partnerships for National Action

  1. Addressing waste management requires collaboration across all sectors of society.
  2. Government must provide the policy framework and leadership. Businesses must recognise that every product placed into the market carries an environmental responsibility. Communities must continue to champion responsible waste practices. And organisations such as the Pacific Recycling Foundation play a vital role in bridging these efforts.
  3. By strengthening partnerships between government, civil society and the private sector, Fiji can build a waste management model that reflects our island context while contributing to regional leadership within the Pacific.

Conclusion

  1. Ultimately, the VAKA Forum reminds us that solving environmental challenges requires shared commitment, evidence-based policy and coordinated leadership.
  2. Let this forum be a platform for meaningful dialogue, stronger alliances and practical solutions.
  3. Let it also be a reminder that protecting Fiji’s environment is a responsibility we all share—across government, communities and generations.
  4. With those remarks, it is my distinct honour and privilege to officially declare the VAKA Forum

 Vinaka Vakalevu. Thank you

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