Papua New Guinea’s Sport Minister has confirmed about TP$34 million ($49 million kina) has been set aside to support Tonga’s preparation to host the 2019 Pacific Games.
EM TV reported that Minister Justin Tkatchenko quoted Prime Minister Peter O’Neil as well as the National Executive Council as saying they had been presented with an overall costing of expenses for Tonga’s project.
“With an estimated K49 million set aside for this purpose, the Minister for Sport, Justin Tkatchenko, has said that, with the PNG economy in a downturn, and with the elections on the horizon, the commitment at the moment was domestic, but that they would still offer assistance to the Pacific Island nation”, the report said.
As Kaniva News reported early last year Tonga’s former Sports Minister Fe’ao Vakata said PNG has indicated it could donate US$35 million ($82.04 pa’anga) to assist Tonga’s preparation.
Now the PNG Sports Minister has confirmed it was TP$34 million Tongan pa’anga not US dollars.