PNG pulls support for Tonga Pacific Games in 2019 [1]
Wednesday, May 17, 2017 - 17:37
Papua New Guinea has pulled its support for the hosting of the 2019 Pacific Games in Tonga, after Prime Minister, Hon ‘Akilisi Pohiva announced the Kingdom’s withdrawal.
PNG Sports and APEC Minister, Justin Tkatchenko told PNG Post Courier media that he was not surprised to hear that Tonga is pulling out of hosting the games.
“The Tongan Prime Minister made it clear that he inherited the Pacific Games and so that it was more of a burden than anything else, because of the economic and financial situation their country is facing.”
PNG has not delivered or committed any financial assistance to Tonga to date.
He said PNG’s commitment and assessment for Tonga to host the 2019 Games is “now basically stalled and will remain that way”.
“We did not pay anything but we did offer assistance through our own personal staff to go to Tonga to train their staff in that regard.”
“So it clearly shows that the government does not want to host the games and I think it will not be economically viable for them to host the games and that’s fair enough,” said Minister Tkatchenko.
He added that Tonga “hasn’t got gas, oil or gold like PNG” to use to fund the games like PNG did in 2015.
“Under the current economic situation the whole of the Pacific is facing, I can understand the situation.”
Minister Tkatchenko confirmed that PNG is not committed to host the 2019 Pacific Games as the country is in election mode and no such commitments can be made until a new government is formed.
“It is in the hands of the Pacific Games Council. The council will have to sit and work out what is their next plan of action for the Games,” he said.