Japan’s GGP Handover of Waste Collection Vehicles to Waste Authority Limited ^Featured

His Excellency Mr. MUNENAGA Kensaku, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Tonga handed over the three vehicles (a compactor and two trucks) to Lord Lasike, Chairman of the Waste Authority Board during a handover ceremony at the Lakalakaimonu Complex, Matatoa. Hon. Viliami Manuopangai Hingano, Governor of Ha’apai attended the ceremony along with Hon. Veivosa Taka, Ha’apai 13 Peoples Representative to the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Paula Ma’u, CEO for MEIDECC, Waste Authority Board Members and Government Officials, and Mr. Malakai Lomu Sika, CEO of Waste Authority Limited.

His Excellency, Mr. MUNENAGA was pleased to handover the vehicles which will be transported to assist the waste collection service in the Ha’apai islands. “These vehicles will enable Waste Authority Limited to collect garbage more efficiently in all villages from Lifuka to Foa.

I believe that the living standards and environmental conservation in Ha’apai will be surely improved and I also trust that the people in charge will take good care of the new vehicles and drive safely,” said Ambassador MUNENAGA.

The vehicles were originally donated from the cities of Kochi, Noda and Yoshikawa through the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Diplomacy, and these vehicles were reconditioned and transported to Tonga under the GGP assistance.

Lord Lasike, thanked the people and Government of Japan for the significant assistance, which the people of Ha’apai will highly appreciate. In 2017, Tonga’s Waste Authority Limited received its first waste collection vehicles having utilized in Vava’u islands.

Japan also through the Technical Cooperation Project for Promotion of Regional Initiative on Solid Waste Management, commonly known as the J-PRISM, improved the waste management system in the outer islands of Tonga.