THE sunken ferry, MV Princess Ashika was insured and so was the cargo and the passengers, the Minister of Finance, Hon. Afu'alo Matoto assured the Tongan parliament on Thursday, September 10 during the House's question time.

Afu'alo told the House that the ferry itself was insured with the British Marine Luxemburg, and the cargoe and the passengers were insured under a Third Party Liability policy with a different insurance company, the Brokers Kwang Propriety, Australia.

Tongatapu People's Representative, 'Akilisi Pohiva wanted to know when the premium was paid, and the Minister of Finance responded, "before the ferry sank."

The Hon. Afu'alo Matoto said that a claim had been lodged for the loss, but there had been no response from the insurance companies.