Apia, SAMOA — Thank you, thank you, thank you… were words uttered by Samoa’s Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailelei Malielegaoi during the closing ceremony of the United Nation Third International Conference on SIDS which is held every ten years.

Tuilaepa said when their fellow Pacific brothers agreed for Samoa to represent the Pacific for the conference, “Since day one, my country has been overwhelmed by the support of the international community and in particular the United Nations Secretariat, this is the biggest conference ever held in our part of the world.”

 “Five days ago Samoa entrusted this venue to the UN and I would like on this occasion, this ceremony to express our heartfelt appreciation and thank you to the UN for the great and careful care of which you looked after all the delegates and visitors including our own people that used the venue throughout the conference.

“While this ceremony may be an unnecessary requirement for all UN conferences.. for Samoa, it marks a very important part of the journey that we took together with the UN to enable our country to host this conference,” the prime minister said.

He thanked Secretary General of the conference Wu Hongbo and his staff for the very close guidance they provided throughout the preparation in order for the venue to meet the full requirements for the conference.

“To all our partners — NGOs, civil society, private sector and international government organizations, I would like to thank you for being marvelous guests in graciously accepting the arrangements which Samoa provided during your stay with us.

“Finally, I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart, his Highness Head of State, Tui Atua Tutpu Tamasese Efi, Parliament, Cabinet, Speaker and Lead of opposition, Chief Justice, the judiciary, church leaders, traditional leaders and village councils and all our people for the tremendous pride that shinned through in Samoa’s hosting of the conference.”