By Katalina Siasau
The Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku is leading Tonga's delegation to New York to attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) next week. As Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Hon. Hu'akavameiliku, will introduce the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) to members of the UN, with hope of getting their support.
The delegation includes Cabinet ministers Hon. Fekitamoeloa 'Utoikamanu, Hon. Dr. Viliami Uasike Latu, and other Government officials.
Hon. 'Utoikamanu is Minister for Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC) while Hon. Hon. Dr. Viliami Uasike Latu is Minister for Trade & Economic Development).
The Pacific Resilience Facility now stands at around USD$150 million and is the first Pacific-led and member-owned climate and disaster resilience financing facility, to be headquartered in Tonga.
During the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Tonga last month, the Pacific Island Forum leaders asked the UN Secretary General, António Guterres for his support towards the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) by arranging a side event for Pacific leaders at the UN General Assembly, to introduce the Pacific Resilience Facility.
PM Hon. Hu’akavameiliku said on Monday, 16 September, at a media briefing in Nuku'alofa, that a lot more money is required to set up the Facility.
"A $100 million is small. We want $250 million by next year, and then two or three years later, we want to get to $1.5 billion."
World Bank to help set up PRF
Earlier this month, PM Hon. Hu'akavameiliku, Forum Secretary General, Baron Waqa, and a few other Pacific Forum leaders attended a high level meeting with the President of the World Bank, Ajay Banga, in Fiji.
Hon. Hu'akavameiliku said they asked for the President's support towards setting up the Pacific Resilience Facility.
"The Pacific Resilience Facility was established because Pacific Islands are not satisfied with the lagging of international funding organizations in assisting the Pacific Islands in dealing with the impacts of climate change," he said.
