Govt allocates funds for Tonga's Mini-Games team [1]
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 - 20:51. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
AN allocation of $200,000 was approved by the Tongan Parliament yesterday, September 14, toward the air fares of the Tongan contingent to the 8th South Pacific Mini Games at the Cook Islands from September 21 to October 2.
The request for financial assistance from the Tonga Amateur Sports Association and National Olympic Committee TASANOC to Parliament was tabled into the House in the form of a Petition, and it was the second within a month.
The first request on 25 August was for $250,000 but the petition yesterday was for $270,300.
The Minister of Finance, Hon. Afu'alo Matoto, told the House outright that he did not have the money. He reminded them that there was a noticeable decrease in government revenue.
The Minister of Youth and Sports said that there was $270,000 in his budget for Tonga to bid for the hosting of the 2015 South Pacific Games and there was $50,000 left over from that allocation.
The Minister of Finance reminded the House that he did not want to touch the government Contingency Fund, but despite the shortage of revenue and funds he said that government would try to find $150,000 and together with the $50,000 from the Ministry of Sports, that will be the government's contribution, and then TASANOC will have to find the balance.