Tonga's Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva arrived in Port Moresby Sunday to meet with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill today
And Pohiva has revealed that Tonga needs about K500 million (US$165.7 million) to host the next Pacific Games in 2019.
Tonga’s annual budget is about K650 million (US$215.4 million)and with a population of about 120,000, they can only do little to support themselves.
The Tonga PM is in Port Moresby to follow up on a pledge by his PNG counterpart last year to help fund Tonga’s preparation of the Games.
Sports and Tourism Minister Justin Tkatchenko met the visiting prime minister and his delegation who arrived on a commercial flight.
At a news conference at Jackson International Airport, PM Pohiva and his entourage, Feaomoeata Vakata – Minister for Internal Affairs and Sports executives said they will be inspecting all the sporting facilities after meeting with PM O’Neill.
"Welcome back to Port Moresby and Papua New Guinea and we look forward to the next two days with you, developing our relationship through sports.
"The delegation will inspect all facilities in PNG, especially in Port Moresby and see what we can do together as two Pacific countries that support each other," Tkatchenko said.
PM Pohiva said the invitation to come to PNG was supposed to be last year but delayed because of other duties and he was thankful PNG put its hand up initially to support Tonga host the next Games.
Tkatchenko said Papua New Guinea was taking the lead in sports.
"With our facilities we are able to look after not only ourselves but our Pacific Island brothers and sisters as well.
"With the new high performance centre we have plans for Tongan athletes to come and train in our country," he said