Prince sails in Suva Harbour

The Pacific Conference of Churches has expressed its appreciation for Norway’s leadership in addressing care for the ocean and it’s hosting of the Our Oceans Conference.

PCC General Secretary, Reverend James Bhagwan shared this word of thanks to the Crown Prince of Norway, Prince Haakon, who along with Norwegian Minister for International Development, Dag Inge Ulstein, were on board the iconic Fijian Traditional Sailing Canoe, the Uto Ni Yalo (Heart of the Spirit) for a sail in Suva’s Laucala Bay, during the Prince’s short visit to Fiji.

Rev. Bhagwan, – who has been the chaplain of the Uto Ni Yalo for nine years and is a volunteer crew member – offered a prayer prior to the sail, as is part of the voyaging tradition.

Also on board were Uto Ni Yalo Trust President, Colin Philp and Special Envoy for the COP23 Presidency Secretariat on the Oceans Pathway. “As Pacific leaders speak of large ocean states and the Blue Pacific as the world’s largest oceanic continent, as we hear of the concept of a Blue Economy, we must ensure that there is not only consideration on those who depend on the ocean for their identity, their survival, their future, we must also ensure the integrity and intrinsic value of life in the ocean as interconnected with our own lives in a complex web of life,” reflected Rev. Bhagwan after the sail.

“We must ensure that as decisions are made about the Oceans, this life-filled aquatic world is cared for as part of the integrity of creation.”