Results for Development

The Minister for Information and Communications, Hon 'Eseta Fusitu'a, said today that the construction of the new inter-island ferry that is being built by the Japanese Government, was delayed for three years because of protests and objections from Mr. 'Uliti Uata, Member of Parliament for Ha'apai, and owner of the Uata Shipping Line, to the negotiations between the Governments of Tonga and Japan in 2005.

The World Bank has approved a $TOP7.5 million grant for the construction of about 100 houses for people who lost their homes in Niuatoputapu, in northern Tonga when the island was struck by a tsunami on September 30.

In a quest to reduce Tonga's total reliance on imported fuel, the Tonga government this week took a positive step forward when 10 representatives of donor countries and agencies gave their support to an Interim Technical Report, which outlined the basis for a Tonga Energy Roadmap for the next decade.

The foundation pouring for the new Taumoepeau Building in central Nuku'alofa has led the way in a new method of construction for Tonga.

Tonga is bidding to host the Pacific Games in 2015 and has earmarked a proposed USD$50 million budget to finance the construction of new sporting facilities and infrastructure over the next six years.

Australia, Tonga's biggest aid donor, will increase its aid to Tonga by 10% during the 2009-10 financial year, Hon. Duncan Kerr, the Australian Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs said in Nuku‘alofa recently.

The reconstruction of Nuku'alofa is finally getting a move on as excavation work has begun at the Taumoepeau Building after much delay since the groundbreaking ceremony in November last year.

A $USD10 million Program Grant for Tonga was announced by by Mr Haruiko Kuroda, the President of the Asian Development Bank during the official opening of an ADB/World Bank Group Joint Focal Office in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, this afternoon, April 21.

The reconstruction of Nuku'alofa' business centre, planned to start after the ground breaking ceremony on November 18 last year, has remained at a virtual stand-still while issues are still being worked out with the property owners.