September 24th, 2014
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Japan handed over Water Supply System for Ha’alaufuli Village
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On September 24th 2014, the Government of Japan handed over the Project for Upgrading of Ha’alaufuli’s Water Supply System. H.E. Dr. Kazuchika Hamuro, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Tonga handed over the upgraded water supply system on behalf of the people and Government of Japan during a commissioning ceremony held at 2:00pm, at Ha’alaufuli village in Vava’u.
Present at the ceremony were Lord Fulivai, Governor of Vava’u; Hon Dr. Viliami Uasike Latu, Minister for Commerce, Tourism and Labour who is also the People’s Representative of Vava’u Constituency # 16, and the people of Ha’alaufuli.
H.E. Dr. Kazuchika Hamuro, in his keynote address, emphasized significance of improved water supply system and its essential role to cater for basic human needs. “Water is at the core of daily life and the scarcity of water leads to health burdening issues and an economic loss of around 7% in the annual GDP of a nation,” said Ambassador Hamuro.
“The improved water supply system of Ha’alaufuli is one of the efforts of Japanese Government to help set up efficient management of water resources in Tonga,” he added.
Hon. Dr. Viliami Uasike Latu thanked Ambassador Hamuro on behalf of the Government of Tonga and the people of Ha’alaufuli for Japan’s generous assistance. “Today marks the first of three handover ceremonies from your Government to the people of Vava’u and I cannot thank you enough for your assistance.”
The Project for upgrading of Ha’alaufuli’s water supply system is a part of Japan’s Official Development Assistance to Tonga made available through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects, or commonly known as GGP. Through GGP, Government of Japan aims to foster sustainable development at the grass-root level which enables people of Tonga to overcome vulnerabilities and to promote Human Security. Ha’alufuli Village Committee sought for Japan’s assistance prioritizing an efficient management of water supply for the 412 people of the village. (kindly refer to Project Fact Sheet for Detail of the Project)
Ambassador Hamuro handed over upgrade water supply system each for Ha’alaufuli, Holonga and Feletoa village, in Vava’u last week.
Project Fact Sheet (PDF)