Papua New Guinean Sport Minister has confirmed an estimate of TP$34 million ($49 million kina) has been set aside to support Tonga in their preparation to host the 2019 Pacific Games.
In an EM TV report on Friday Hon. 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”, it said.
As Kaniva reported in 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.
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