Tonga DPM encourages strong partnership between Government and Communities

By Sini Latu, Tonga Broadcasting Commission: http://www.tonga-broadcasting.net

10 July 2013, Nadi, Fiji - The Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga says the government should work with communities to make them resilient to disasters and impacts of climate change.

The Hon. Samiu Vaipulu raised this during high level discussions on ‘The vision and Role of Political Governance in Integrating Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change’ in
Nadi, Fiji.

Speaking from Tongan experience, he said in the past communities would often wait for government to help them during floods, now that is changing with communities becoming more proactive.

That attitude he says is now changing with communities becoming more proactive.

He says government must work to build its relations with communities to help to minimise the risks and damages from disasters, in times of emergency.

The Deputy Prime Minister says, that government should be strategic in planning for times of disasters and emergencies.

For the Tongan Government this has included putting aside 6-million pa’anga for disaster response.