Access to the internet and a computer centre of their own was a welcome Christmas present for members of the 'Ofa Tui mo e 'Amanaki Centre for the handicapped.

Located at the OTA Centre at Pea the facility is equipped with five computers donated by the Westpac Bank of Tonga and supported by other companies in Tonga.

The computer centre was opened by Hon, 'Etani Tuku'aho.

The General Manager of Westpac Bank of Tonga, Ashleigh Matheson said today the community project is part of a staff annual program.

The bank regularly renews their computers every four years and they usually donate surplus computers to schools but this is the first time they have given the equipment to the centre.

"The project is a joint collaboration with private companies who are our customers in making this centre a reality. We donated the computers while Dataline did all the wiring, Tonga Communication Corporation provided a free internet service while Pacific Timber and Hardware providing the benches for the computers," said Ashleigh.

Lavinia Malei, the keeper of the centre was delighted with the new facility as it provides the 30 residents of the disability centre with something to do.

"This is a great Christmas present for all of us and the computer centre will be open 24 hours every day for the residents to use because they will all be spending Christmas here," she said.

Westpac is also providing its computer experts to teach residents how to use the computer and the internet.