16/11 wiped out 20% of Tonga's GDP in a day, Finance Minister tells Parliament

The Minister of Finance said that 2007 is a very difficult year because on November 16 about 20% of Tonga's GDP was destroyed in one day and it was difficult to establish the real state of the economy because they have not been able to value all that was lost during 16/11. PR Samiu Vaipulu expressed his concern that it would take many generations to repay government loans.