October 21th, 2014
-
Japan handed over new Workshop Building for Tonga Police
-
On November 20, 2014 the Government of Japan handed over the Project for Upgrading of the Workshop for Tonga Police Patrol Vehicle. H.E Dr. Kazuchika Hamuro, Ambassador Extraodinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Tonga handed over the new constructed workshop building on behalf of the people and the Government of Japan to Hon. Siosifa Tu’utafaiva, Minister for Police, Prisons and Fire Services at a commissioning ceremony held at the Tonga Police College in Longolongo, Tongatapu.
H.E Dr. Kazuchika Hamuro in his key note address emphasized significance of enhancing human security and human development of the population. “The new garage and workshop facility will service police vehicle assets in an attempt to increase police presence in communities for a safer Tonga. This is a crucial step in securing effective and efficient response to emergency calls which is aligned with the Tonga Strategic Development Framework’s objective of a sefe, secure, and stable society by maintaining law and order.”
“I hand over this establishment to Tonga Police with high hopes that it will be kept in good condition to facilitate to improve the quality of life not only for this generation but also for generations to come,” added Ambassador Hamuro.
Hon. Siosifa Tu’utafaiva, Minister for Police, Prisons and Fire Services and Mr. Grant O’Fee, Commissioner of Tonga Police, expressed appreciation for the assistance from the people and Government of Japan, noting that Tonga Police needed to upgrade its deteriorated old workshop facility to maintain Police vehicles to provide necessary services for communities, and new workshop will also serve to provide students of technical institutions in Tonga opportunities to have practical experiences in repairing and maintaining vehicles.
Tonga Police sought for Japan’s assistance in April 2013 prioritizing proper regular servicing of Police vehicles in an appropriate facility. The original Police workshop has operated for over 40 years. Japan’s assistance was made available through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP). The assistance enable constructing of one workshop building accommodation an office space, spare storage area, workshop area, tyre service area and a service pit area. (kindly refer to attached Project Fact Sheet for more detail of assistance.) END.
Project Fact Sheet (PDF)