The Government of Japan continues to provide development assistance to rural sectors, which benefits villages, as well as public organization in the Kingdom of Tonga. This time, five villages and one hospital will celebrate the opening of new water supply systems and provision of new staff quarters. These projects were funded under Japan...’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) programme.

The Counsellor at the Embassy of Japan, Mr. Hiroyuki Orikasa will be representing the Ambassador of Japan, H.E. Mr. Masashi Namekawa, to officially open the new water supply facility at Kolonga village. Following the Counsellor, Mr. Orikasa, the Second Secretary at the embassy, Ms. Reiko Konosu, will be also representing the Ambassador to formally open the new water supply facilities at Ha...’akio village and Leimatu...’a village in Vava...’u, Nukuleka village and Tokomololo village in Tongatapu, as well as to hand over the new staff quarters for the Niu...’ui Hospital in Ha...’apai.

Details of the projects and their handing over ceremony schedules are as follows:

(i)The Project for Water Supply for Kolonga Village

This project was funded through a GGP grant of US$79,967.00 (approx. T$150,000.00) to cover the material and construction costs of the whole water pipe system as well as water meters. This project is expected to benefit around two thousand and six hundred people from the local area.



The handing over ceremony will be held at Kolonga Village in Tongatapu Island on Wednesday, 1st August 2007 at 14.00 p.m.

(ii)The Project for Water Supply for Leimatu...’a Village

This project was funded through a GGP grant of US$80,814.00 (approx. T$150,149.00) to cover the material and construction costs of one water supply system (pump, 5000 gallon tank, tank stand, water meters and pipes). This project is expected to benefit around two thousand people from the local area.

The handing over ceremony will be held at Leimatu...’a Village in Vava...’u Island on Saturday, 4th August 2007 at 10.00 a.m.

(iii)The Project for Water Supply for Ha...’akio Village

This project was funded through a GGP grant of US$69,030.00 (approx. T$128,254.00) to cover the material and construction costs of one water supply system (pump, 5000 gallon tank, tank stand, water meters and pipes). This project is expected to benefit around three hundred people from the local area.

The handing over ceremony will be held at Ha...’akio Village in Vava...’u Island on Saturday, 4th August 2007 at 15.00 p.m.

(iv)The Project for Construction of Staff Quarter Building for Niu...’ui Hospital

This project was funded through a GGP grant of US$87,193.00 (approx. T$162,000.00) to cover the material and construction costs of three new staff quarters. This project is expected to encourage the quality of care at the hospital and to indirectly benefit around thousands of people in the local area.

The handing over ceremony will be held at Niu...’ui Hospital in Lifuka Island, Ha...’apai on Monday, 6th August 2007 at 14:00 p.m.

(v)The Project for Water Supply for Nukuleka Village

This project was funded through a GGP grant of US$72,692.00 (approx. T$136,355.00) to cover the material and construction costs of one water supply system (pump, 5000 gallon tank, tank stand, water meters and pipes). This project is expected to benefit around three hundred fifty people from the local area.

The handing over ceremony will be held at Nukuleka Village in Tongatapu Island on Wednesday, 8th August 2007 at 14.00 p.m.

(vi)The Project for Water Supply for Tokomololo Village

This project was funded through a GGP grant of US$82,625.00 (approx. T$154,986.00) to cover the material and construction costs of three new staff quarters. This project is expected to benefit around nine hundred people from the local area.

The handing over ceremony will be held at Tokomololo in Tongatapu Island on Friday, 10th August 2007 at 14:00 p.m.

Japan...’s assistance to these projects indicates its commitment to contribute to the improvement of the living standards and welfare of people in the Kingdom of Tonga and is in line with its Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy of promoting development at the grassroots level. The GGP programme is specifically designed to address basic human needs, which include water supply, health, basic education, vocational training, sanitary environment and rural infrastructure. In 2006, GGP funded total of US$926,771.00- (approx. T$1,727,022.00-) for the twelve projects. It is hoped that this assistance will help further strengthen the friendly ties between the governments and the peoples of Kingdom of Tonga and Japan. Japanese Embassy, 06/08/07.