Tonga’s Deputy PM launched Pacific Resilience Project in Suva, Fiji. Featured
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for MEIDECC with the Tonga Delegation during the launch of the PREP Project
24 June, 2016. Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for MEIDECC today officially launched the Pacific Resilience Project (PREP) at the Pearl Resort in Suva, Fiji.
The Project which is a Partnership between the World Bank and the Pacific Island Countries of Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu and Marshall islands as well as Regional support provided by the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (PIFS)
The Tonga component of the Project of USD16.85Million will support improvement in
(1) Support for Early warnings Systems and Preparedness
(2) Disaster Risk Financing
(3) Resilient investments and
(4) Project Management
The project will address some large investment items to build resilience in these three areas including:
(1) Construction of a new joint Office facility for NEMO and the National Weather Forecasting Centre at Mataki’eua and in the outer islands
(2) Upgrade of the Maritime Radio Network
(3) Establish a Multi-hazard Early Warning System
(4) Support for the removal of asbestos from Ngu hospital in Vava’u
(5) Retrofitting of schools
(6) Procurement of stockpiles for disaster response
(7) New AM Radio transmitter for Tonga Broadcasting Commission (TBC)
(8) Upgrade of Tonga’s seismic network
(9) Upgrade of communications between disaster management agencies through
the laying of fibre optic cables
(10) Improve the access of the National Weather Forecasting Centre to the global meteorological telecommunications system (GTS)
(11) Improve dissemination of information through communication systems e.g. website and new products and services
(12) Institutional strengthening and development of a legal and regulatory framework
(13) Establishment of a television weather presentation and
(14) Development of an investment plan for investment works in a second phase
“PREP allows us to work together with our Pacific neighbours, to take a pro-active approach to managing natural disasters in the region,” said Siaosi Sovaleni Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga. “We are committed to strengthening Tonga against future natural disasters and being a partner in this initiative is an important part of that strategy.”
Also present at the launch are representatives from MEIDECC, Ministry of Finance as well as the local Project Management Unit. The launch is followed by a 2 day training on World Bank project management. The Project runs until 30 November 2020.
MEIDECC
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DEPUTY PM SOVALENI RUNS AROUND THE WORLD TRUMPETING CLIMATE CHANGE, BUT NEGLECTING TONGA'S WEAK ECONOMY, UNEMPLOYMENT, ETC...
1) When is he going to come up with something constructive to build the struggling economy at home?
2) 3,000 high school graduates coming to join the Tonga's unemployed workforce each year...but no jobs, and no future.
3) And not a bleep from this world Globetrotter bureaucrat how to improve the economy...not even a preliminary plan, or brainstorming ideas.
4) Thank you for teaching other countries how to deal with their problems; how about staying home for longer than a week and work on plans to improve the economy?
5) Coming soon is your 2-year anniversary of being on the job, and no mention of an economic plan to improve the ever worsening economy, particularly unemployed youths roaming the streets of Nuku'alofa looking for work.
6) Must be nice to jet around the world on "other people's money" enjoying hotel amenities, free movies, and free dining.
7) Meanwhile, the ranks of unemployment and poverty stricken Tongans grows.
8) Well, he's looking to other countries' donors to send money as if Tonga has a sugar-daddy living beyond the horizons.