Solomon Islanders In PNG Donate Tsunami Funds

Solomon Is. Communities In PNG Donate Funds To Tsunami Victims

Three communities in Papua New Guinea are the latest to donate funds to the National Disaster Management Office to rehabilitate those affected by the tsunami and earthquake in Western and Choiseul provinces.

Solomon Islands Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, His Excellency Bernard Bata’anisia has presented more than SBD$40,000 to the Director of the National Disaster Management Office, Mr Loti Yates on behalf of the three groups late this morning.

Mr Bata’anisia said the donations were made through the Solomon Islands High Commission Office in Port Moresby last week.

The groups include the Solomon Islands Community in PNG (K3150), the East New Britain Provincial Government (K5000) and the Japanese World War II Veterans (US$4000).

High Commissioner Bata’anisia said the contribution by the Solomon Islands Community was part of a fundraising drive organised by the High Commission Office that has been going on for the last few months.

He said the contributions were mainly from students, families and friends of the Solomon Islands Community, particularly those living around Port Moresby.

He said many of the students studying at PNG institution come mainly form the two affected provinces and they have also put a lot of effort into the fundraising activities.

The contribution of the East New Britain Provincial Government was in recognition of the close proximity of the island province to the two affected provinces of the Solomon Islands.

He said the Provincial Government of East New Britain also expressed their deepest sympathy for the families and friends of those affected by the recent quake and tsunami, and have accordingly made their contribution to assist their neighbor province.

The Japanese World War II Veteran’s contribution was delivered to the High Commission Office by the Japanese Embassy in Port Moresby.

The Veterans were on a memorial visit on the islands of Bougainville when the natural disaster hit the Solomon Islands, the Ambassador said.

Mr Bata’anisia said other fundraising drives and appeals for the victims of the tsunami and earthquake are ongoing in PNG, and these contributions will be handed over to the NDMO as soon as he returns to PNG, he said.

The Ambassador acknowledged the assistance given by the three groups which he said, though small, may go a long way in assisting the huge task of rehabilitating the affected communities in Western and Choiseul provinces.

Ambassador Bata’anisia is in the country to brief the Foreign Affairs Ministry on the progress of the construction of the new Solomon Islands Chancery Office in Port Moresby.

He said he will be discussing with his colleagues from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and External Trade on the progress of the construction works, the design and the proposed date to begin the construction of the Chancery Office.

The Ambassador will leave Solomon Islands on Saturday to return to PNG.

ENDS

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