The Government of Japan has committed three grant aid projects aimed to improve the waste management and water supply system, while extending the nationwide early warning system in Tonga.

Japanese Ambassador H.E Munenaga Kensaku and Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameilku signed and exchanged notes formalizing the grant aid projects today, 12 August, at the Fa’onelua Convention Centre.

This is for the provision of Infrastructure Equipment to the Outer Islands as part of the Tonga Water Board program; the provision of Waste Management Equipment for the Waste Authority Limited and supplementary assistance for the Nationwide Early Warning System, Strengthening Disaster Communication Project (NEWS) under the Ministry of MEIDECC.

This assistance is quite relevant and useful, not only for the recovery from the disaster, but also for the future development of Tonga, said the Ambassador.

The first is for the Waste Authority Limited under the Non-Project Grant Aid (NPGA) worth about USD4 milion.

The project will provide various machines and vehicles to improve waste management so that they could clean up the rubble and debris, after the disaster and also establish a better recycling system, including scrapped cars, he said.

The water supply assistance worth around USD1.1 million also under NGPA.

Japan will provide necessary machines and equipment to maintain and improve the water supply system in the outer Islands.

"We all know and realized how important the water supply system is in the event of disasters, especially in the outer Islands, their water supply system is rather fragile and aging. Through this provision, we believe the maintenance by Tonga Water Board will be well improved and upgraded."

Early warning system 

The last grant aid is under Japan’s General Grant scheme, which is for the second additional grant fund for the NEWS project.

The NEWS project was supposed to be completed in August 2020. However, due to COVID-19 all the technicians had to return to Japan and the project was delayed until now.

"Having experienced the severity of the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai and considering its great importance for the people in Tonga, Japan decided to provide additional fund to cover the cost to overrun and complete this project."

The amount of the additional fund is USD1.9 million on this second addition. The first addition was provided in April 2021, so altogether the total amount is about USD25 million.

There are currently around 30 Japanese technicians now working for NEWS and hopefully the project will be completed by this September, before the next cyclone season, said the Ambassador.

Tonga

The Prime Minister extended Tonga’s sincere gratitude to the government and people of Japan for their continuous generous support and for reinforcing our development partnership. 

This is certainly signified with the ceremony this afternoon to sign and exchange notes for the three Japan Grant aid projects to improve waste management by the Waste Authority Ltd, improve water supply by Tonga Water Board and extending the nationwide early warning system and completing other disaster communication projects, he said.

The PM also acknowledged Japan's prompt humanitarian assistance to Tonga, after the volcanic eruption and tsunamis on 15 January.