29th March, 2019 TONGAN The Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga and Minister for Tourism and Infrastructure Honourable Semisi Sika who was the guest of honour of a ground-breaking ceremony this morning and the Ambassador of Japan to Tonga H.E. Mr Tetsuya Ishii marked the commencement of the Nationwide Early Warning System Project and the beginning of the work on Tonga Broadcasting Commission new studio building at Fasi-moe-Afi ‘a Tungi.
The new studio is part of the $56 million Pa’anga Nationwide Early Warning System Project (NEWS) funded by the Government and People of Japan through the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Hon Sika said that the new studio building will replace the first ever broadcasting studio building for Tonga that was commissioned by Her Late Majesty Queen Salote Tupou III in 1961.
“Such milestone work was established with the primary purpose to deliver radio and now television programs to entertain, educate and inform the audience.”
He also stated that this early warning system is the combination of hazard detection, analysis, warning transmission and community preparedness to enable individuals and communities to take preventative actions to avoid loss and damage prior to a natural hazard.
“In the absence of an adequate response the impacts of hazards result in disasters that affect a country’s economic, human, and physical environment and impact their long-term development. The effectiveness of early warning systems designed to reduce exposure to hazards depends on people’s capacity to understand and respond. This is a high priority where early action is essential to save lives and to protect livelihoods and property during the most challenging and difficult times of disasters and emergencies.”
Ambassador of Japan to Tonga, H.E Tetsuya Ishii said, “The NEWS project is based on Japan’s Country Assistance Policy to the Kingdom of Tonga under our ODA charter, whereby disaster prevention and mitigation is one of our focus areas for Tonga, namely through the ‘environment and climate change’ as well as ‘reducing vulnerability’ by improving communication infrastructure capacity.”
The Minister for MEIDECC, Honourable Poasi Tei in his welcoming address expressed his sincere gratitude to the Government and the People of Japan for their ongoing support and kind contributions.
NEWS is set to complete in August 2020.
Attending this ceremony were members of the diplomatic corps, cabinet ministers, government officials and guests.
ENDS
Issued by the: Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications.