PGA ASSOCIATION P. O Box 1278, Nuku’alofa, Kingdom of Tonga. Office: (+676) 21041; Fax: (+676) 24127 Accounts: (+676) 24850 Email: [email protected] PATRON: H. M King Tupou VI PRESIDENT: [email protected] SECRETARY GENERAL: Takitoa Taumoepeau, [email protected]

4th July, 2014

Mr Vidhya Lakhan President Pacific Games Council Noumea NEW CALEDONIA

Re: 2019 Pacific Games Tonga Preparation Update Report

Dear President Lakhan; Members of the Council; Delegates from PGA’s Ladies and gentlemen;

I bring you greetings from the members of the Tonga PGA as well as the Chairman/CEO, Lord Sevele-of-Vailahi of the Pacific Games Organizing Committee 2019 Tonga.

Appointment to Committee I am pleased to advise that after a year and a half, the Host Government and Host PGA with the assistance and guidance of your Council, had managed to appoint and confirm the initial members for the Pacific Games Organizing Committee 2019 a couple of months ago. Further, they had also appointed and endorsed the appointment of Lord Sevele-of-Vailahi (a.k.a Dr Fred Sevele) as the CEO/Chairman of the Oragnizing Committee. The rest of the members are as follows:

1. Mr Takitoa Taumoepeau, Secretary General, Tonga PGA (ex-officio) 2. Mr Sione Sisifa, Solicitor General, Crown Law Office (ex-officio) 3. Mr Semisi Sika, Business person and People’s Representative-Tongatapu II 4. Mr Andrew Minogue, Executive Director, PGC 5. Mr Paea Wolfgramme, National Sports person and former Olympian 6. Mr ‘Aholotu Palu, Acting Chief secretary and Acting Secretary to Cabinet 7. Mr Tatafu Moeaki, CEO - Ministry of Finance and Planning 8. Mr Ringo Fa’oliu, CEO – Ministry of Infrastructure 9. Mr Lopeti Senituli, CEO – Ministry of Internal Affairs and Sports 10.Mr Ross Chapman, Business person 11.Lord Tupou KC, Senior Law Practitioner 12.Fakahau Valu, National Sports person

It is also pleasing that the Chairman and members of the OC are also looking to include women’s membership in the Committee.

I would also like to advise that the Host Government and Host PGA had also appointed the members for the Audit and Governance Authority Committee as follows: Host Government: 1. Lord Tu’ivakano, Hon. Prime Minister of Tonga 2. Hon. Samiu Vaipulu, Hon. Deputy Prime Minister 3. Lord Ma’afu, Hon. Minister of Environment, Lands and Survey and Climate Change 4. Lord Vaea, Hon. Minister of Internal Affairs & Sports Host PGA: 1. Lady Tu’ivakano, President of Tonga PGA 2. Mr Lennie Niit, Senior Vice President, 3. Mr Hasiloni Fungavai, Treasurer PGC Delegate: 1. Mr Vidhya Lakhan, President

Games Budget The host Government has reviewed and adopted the Games proposed budget and it was also an issue with the discussion of the Bill in the House. The host Government remains committed to working with the host PGA and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the budget is realistic and taking into accounts various financial and economical factors within the Tongan environment and context.

Venue Delivery Plan Under clause 4.1.14 of the host Contract, the host Government agreed to set up a Facilities Committee within six months (19th April, 2013) which will responsible for providing venues. This is aligning with Government commitment as she has had a Facilities Committee before for the 1989 Pacific Mini Games and it is only a matter of re-activating with appointing of its members. It has been taken a while but I am pleased to advise that the Host Government Facilities Committee is now in place and members are as follows: 1. Hon. Samiu Vaipulu, Hon. Deputy Prime Minister 2. Lord Ma’afu, Hon. Minister of Environment, Lands & Survey and Climate Change 3. Hon. ‘Aisake Eke, Hon. Minister of Finance & Planning 4. Lord Vaea, Hon. Minister of Internal Affairs & Sports

I would also like to add that a joint Tonga PGA-Pacific Games Organizing Committee 2019 fact finding trip to last May was an enlightening and eye opening for those new members in the delegation with reference to the task at hand having shared and discussed with former members of the Organizing Committee of the .

Sports Program The Organizing Committee will continue to liaise with respective national Federations (NF’s) in relation to their respective sports on the program. May I remind that the following sports are on the program for 2019.

Compulsory: 1. Athletics 2. Basketball 3. Boxing 4. Football 5. Golf 6. Judo 7. Rugby 7’s 8. Swimming 9. Table Tennis 10.Taekwondo 11. Tennis 12. Va’a 13. Volleyball (Beach & Indoor) 14. Weightlifting Optional: 15. Archery 16. Baseball 17. Body Building 18. Cricket 19. Netball 20. Hockey 21. Lawn Bowl 22. Power Lifting 23. Rugby League 9’s 24. Softball 25. Surfing 26. Triathlon TOTAL: 26 Sports

Acknowledgement On behalf of the members of the host PGA, I wish to extend our sincere gratitude to Lord Vaea, Hon. Minister of Internal Affairs & Sports and on behalf of the Host Government for the work carried out to date and eventually establishing the Organizing Committee. Further, a special acknowledgement and thanks for the CEO/Chairman Lord Sevele-of-Vailahi and members of the Pacific Games Organizing Committee 2019 for commencement of their task and work towards the Games.

I also wish to acknowledge the continuous support and assistance from President Lakhan and Andrew Minogue of the Pacific Games Council.

Malo ‘aupito,

Lady Tu’ivakano PRESIDENT cc: Lord Vaea, Minister of Internal Affairs & Sports : EC Members of the Tonga NOC / PGA : David Boyd, Secretary General PGC : Andrew Minogue, Executive Director PGC