New private sector donations have been committed to assist the Tonga Government in its recovery program and to assist some of the urgent needs of those badly affected by the January 15 volcanic eruption and tsunamis in Tonga.

The Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku [Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni] extended government’s gratitude to Toyota and Bank South Pacific, at the PMO in Nuku’alofa today.

Toyota

Toyota Tsusho South Pacific Holdings Pty Ltd, presented AUD$330,000 to UNICEF Australia to assist with water and sanitation activities and ongoing education and community outreach activities. Tonga ASCO Toyota CEO, Tonga 'Uli'uli Po’oi, advised the PMO on the donation through a letter from Mr Masahiro Kuwahara the parent company’s Managing Director.

Bank South Pacific

The Bank South Pacific Tonga’s Country Manager, Marcellina Rose Wolfgramm Ha’apai, presented the BSP Group’s donation of $50,000 pa’anga to support government in the reconstruction efforts for displaced communities, including the Mango Island evacuees. This donation was in addition to $6000 pa’anga donated by BSP Fiji and BSP Vanuatu, for Tongan aid agencies. Another $10,000 KINA from the BSP Financial Group had been extended to Tonga from fundraising efforts in Papua New Guinea. 

The Prime Minister extended his sincere gratitude to the Chairman of the BSP Bank Group, Sir Kostas G. Constantinou (OBE) and Mr Masahiro Kuwahara, Managing Director of Toyota Tsusho South Pacific Holdings Pty Ltd for their contributions to the people of Tonga.