Tonga is one of the two countries bidding to host the 5th Pacific Media Summit in 2018.
The Kingdom’s bid was confirmed at the 4th Pacific Media Summit in Koror, Palau, where the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA), conveners of the biennial Pacific Media Summit, held its Annual General Meeting.
While Tonga’s written bid included the support of the Tongan Government, conveyed through a letter from the Ministry responsible for Information and Communication or MEIDECC, Papua New Guinea’s bid was without any support letter from their Government.
Tonga’s bid was put forward by the President of the Friendly Islands Sports Journalists Association (FISJA), Iliesa Tora and supported by the Minister for Information, Communication and Deputy Prime Minister, Siaosi Sovaleni.
Sovaleni said the event would be great for Tonga, especially as the Pacific Media family can promote and highlight preparations for the 2019 Pacific Games, which Tonga will also host.
PINA President Moses Stevens said the PINA Board will decide on the 2018 venue within three months and will advise the two bidding countries.
He said PNG’s delegation had tried to secure support letters from their Government but were unable to “and we will give them time to do that”.
Tora said bringing the event to Tonga will be beneficial for the media industry here and the country as a whole.
“It will be bringing the Pacific Media family home to Tonga and that will give more of our local journalists the opportunity to participate and be part of the Summit,” he said. Tora and Radio/TV Tonga’s Anton Samita represented Tonga at the Palau event..