Peceli Naviticoko 
[Source: Supplied]
The Fijian Parliament has again stamped its mark on the higher rank of the Small Islands Developing States of the 147th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly currently underway in Luanda, Angola.
The Leader of the Opposition, Inia Seruiratu, was unanimously elected as the Chair of the SIDS during the meeting.
Despite the diplomatic objections by Seruiratu to his nomination to allow other members to take up the role, members present persistently resolved that Fiji take up the position, which will be co-chaired by the Speaker of the Parliament of Cape Verde.
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The SIDS are faced with several serious environmental challenges, mostly related to climate change, including sea-level rise and loss of biodiversity and ecosystem goods and services.
The three geographical regions in which SIDS are located are the Caribbean, the Pacific, and the Atlantic; the Indian Ocean; and the South China Sea.
[Source: Supplied]
Meanwhile, Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives Milton Dick was unanimously endorsed by the Asia-Pacific Geopolitical Group to fill one of the two vacancies in the IPU Executive Committee.
