In response to a request to the Government of India to extent its grant assistance to the community of the island of Hunga in Vava'u, to upgrade the island's small boat jetty, the First Secretary from the Indian High Commission in Suva undertook a joint site visit with the Hon. Governor of Vava'u, Sonatane Tu'akinamolahi Tupou to Hunga on Wednesday 2nd July 2008, to substantiate the proposal to implement the jetty upgrade immediately after the access road upgrade. The Government of Tonga had already received the grant of TOP$ 180,000 from the Government of India for upgrading the main access road in Hunga and the joint site visit will help the Government of India's decision to grant additional funds for the upgrading of the jetty.

The joint visit was warmly received to the island of Hunga by Hon. Fulivai's clan in the island and extended their appreciation for the Hon. Governor's visit. As a result, the First Secretary from the Indian High Commission experienced first hand the difficulty of accessing the village, and the poor condition of the jetty as the main access point to the largest populated outer island in Vava'u.

The people of Hunga in particular the elderly warmly welcomed and acknowledged the Hon. Governor's taking the time to witness first hand and responsiveness to their longstanding pressing need to upgrade the island's main access road and the small boat jetty. It is expected as an outcome of this joint visit, that the implementation of the access road upgrade will begin with the grant already received from India, and favorable consideration of the extension of the India grant to upgrade the jetty after the access road establishment. The Hon. Governor of Vava'u further extended indebted acknowledgements to the First Secretary from the Indian High Commission in Suva for the Government of India's willingness to support grassroots projects in Vava'u.

In addition, the Hon. Governor of Vava'u was also pleased that funds for other community assistance in Vava'u were also disbursed suppliers for procurement. They include;

...•Funding for the provision of three (3) New Water Pump Engines (one each) for 'Utui, Tu'anekivale, Ha'alaufuli, and New Water Storage Tank and Stand for Holonga;

...•Contribution to the road improvement work to the Ta'anea/Halaufuli/Kolonga road;

...•Provision of Water Cement Tanks for Koloa and will continue to 'Utungake and Talihau;

...•Landscaping of Kalaka Dumpsite; and

...•Upgrade of the Access Road and Car Park to the Prince Ngu Hospital;

The Hon. Governor of Vava'u and the First Secretary from the Indian High Commission in Suva will return to Tongatapu on Thursday, 3rd of July 2008. Governor's Office, 03/07/08.