Fiji has been appointed as the newest member of the Finance and Budget Committee for the Ramsar Convention meeting.

Aside from Fiji’s election to the Executive body (the Standing Committee) of Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, Fiji was also elected to be the Oceania regional representative to the committee responsible for budget and finance along with Australia.

The new appointment comes with the enormous responsibility of ensuring that the Oceania region is able to deliver its financial obligations and commitments to the Ramsar convention.

Acting Minister for Local Government and Minister for Transport, Colonel Timoci Natuva is heading Fiji’s delegation to the meet in Romania and issued a statement that there should be no room for “free riders”.

“There are number of contracting parties that have not paid their arrears which at the moment amounts to CHF 700,000 (Swiss Francs). Some members from the Oceania region have not paid their dues,” Minister Natuva said.

Fiji as regional representative will support any decision by the Conference of Parties plenary for sanction against those who in are in arrears.

Fiji has always managed to pay its contribution on time and may possibly consider some regional project as a voluntary contribution to the work of Ramsar.

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