Japan funds community projects [1]
Wednesday, March 18, 2015 - 13:53. Updated on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 - 16:00.
The Government of Japan has contributed around $980,000 pa’anga to fund six community projects that will upgrade schools and provide a new boat for transportation to the people of ‘Eueiki Island in Tongatapu.
The Japanese Ambassador HE Dr Kazuchika Hamuro signed the contracts for five projects with recipients on Tuesday, 17 March at the Ministry of Finance in Nuku'alofa.
A sixth contract to upgrade Angaha Government Primary School in ‘Eua will be held on 19 March.
Ambassador Hamuro said this assistance is a unique financial support with an all-encompassing nature aimed at providing assistance to improve access to basic human needs of grassroots level.
Funded under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) the projects included, but are not limited to, upgrading and constructing of basic infrastructures such as schools, hospitals, transportation and water supply systems, he said.
“We are going to endorse six projects this month estimated in total of over half a million US dollars and these projects are equally distributed with only two on Tongatapu and one each in ‘Eua, Ha’apai, Vava’u, and a small offshore island of ‘Eueiki in Tongatapu.”
The projects included the upgrading of the Technical and Vocational Education Training Facility (TEVT) at both ‘Apifo’ou College and Tupou College.
The Longomapu Government Primary School in Vava’u and Angaha GPS in ‘Eua will be upgraded as well as a multipurpose training centre of the Tonga Red Cross in Ha’apai.
The people living at ‘Eueiki will also be provided with a new boat, safety equipment and construction of a slipway to improve their transportation to Tongatapu.