Tonga’s Former Ambassador to China, Siamelie Lātū, has questioned how the government used what he has claimed was a grant of $36 million dollars from China to Tonga every year.
Lātū wanted the government to allow people to borrow from the money to help their standard of living.
But the Finance Minister Hon. Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa said Lātū was wrong as Tonga did not receive the donation as cash.
The Minister said what the former Ambassador was talking about was an “in-kind project.”
Hon. Tu’i’oonetoa said China and Tonga had agreed that the kingdom would ask help from China for projects if needed.
In the 2019/20 government budget Tonga has asked China for heavy machinery to help construct and renovate its roads.
Through this in-kind project agreement, China will buy the machinery and send it to Tonga, the Minister said.
If Tonga also wanted the Chinese to help with labourers and construction crew to conduct the project China would send their own people to do the work, he said.
While the Minister was responding and clarifying Lātū’s queries the former Ambassador left his seat and walked out of the meeting.
The debate emerged during a recent public meeting led by the cabinet ministers at the Fatu hall in Lapaha.
The government wanted to discuss questions from the public about its policies and guidelines.
The meeting began on June 20 and will continue in every constituency, Hon. Tu’i’onetoa said.
The main points
- Tonga’s Former Ambassador to China, Siamelie Latu, has questioned how the government used what he has claimed was a grant of $36 million dollars from China to Tonga every year.
- Latu wanted the government to allow people to borrow from the money to help their live.
