21 Mar 2016

Bainimarama says rich countries must help with Fiji rebuild

8:15 pm on 21 March 2016
Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama speaking to disciplined forces in January 2016

Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama Photo: Supplied

Fiji's prime minister Frank Bainimarama intends calling for rich countries to help Fiji rebuild more resiliently after Cyclone Winston.

He said Fiji will have to rebuild to a much higher standard than before with sturdier structures, roofs lashed down more firmly and overhead power lines placed underground.

But he said this is way beyond Fiji's resources.

He said when he travels to New York next month for the formal ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change he will send a strong message that what has been agreed so far on climate change is not enough.

Mr Bainimarama said industrialised countries created the crisis but countries like Fiji are bearing the brunt of their excesses.

He described the last month as the most testing period in Fiji's history.

44 people died and 30, 000 homes were destroyed or damaged in the category 5 cyclone.