Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific in her first official visit to the Kingdom visited the Ministry of Police Longolongo headquarter to inspect Australian Government’s aid to the Ministry.
Australia’s aid to Tonga is approximately TOP$30 million per annum, however allocation and implementation of fund is important to ensure that such project is ongoing and sustainable.
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells told Radio and TelevisionTonga News, this initiated her visit to Tonga Police yesterday, inspecting several barracks at Longolongo Headquarter and newly installed solar farm in the premises, rescue boats and others.
“…Well, Australia and Tonga have a very close and warm relationship, we have relationships in terms of defense cooperation. This morning I signed a further aid partnership agreement with the Kingdom of Tonga and here we are, in this place where we have contributed to financing and our Police Cooperation is extensive. We have the 3 vessels that are available to the Police which are vital in terms of search and rescue. So our relationships are on different levels, aid, and defense cooperation. Tomorrow I will be going to Ha’apai Island, we’ll be taking some live oysters with us because of the pearl industry are very important to Australia in terms of its research and we have assisted this industry. We have assistance in terms of health, education. I’ll be doing some work during these three days in relation to sports sponsorship. I’ll be making an announcement in relation to Health”
Fierravanti-Wells was welcomed by the Minister of Police – Dr. Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa, Australia High Commissioner to Tonga – Andrew Ford, Deputy Police Commissioner – ‘Unga Fa’aoa and others.
While in Nuku’alofa, Fierravanti- Wells signed a new Tonga-Australia Aid Partnership, which will reflect Australia and Tonga’s shared development priorities and provide a clear strategic focus for our aid investments over the next three years.
“It focuses on Tonga’s priorities and how they align with Australia’s priorities and economically, our focus on economic participation of women, people with disabilities, our aid partnerships is focus on range of areas, so our aid bilaterally and multi-laterally is estimated at 30 million dollars per annum”
This will include a TOP$75,000 partnership with Netball Australia that will support gender equality through community netball. She will also open a new netball court constructed in central Nuku’alofa, which will provide a safe space for women and girls to meet, exercise and build community connections through sport. Wells also signed an Australian funded program with the Ministry Health.
Photo: Twitter Australia's Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Concetta Fierravanti-Wells visits the Ministry of Police HQ