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Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Niue Government donates NZ$10,000 to Solomons' Disaster Assistance Programme

By Deli Oso, Press Secretary to the PM

Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare this morning received a NZ$10,000 cheque from the visiting Niuean Acting Police Minister, Organ Viliko in aide of the earthquake and tsunami-affected people of Western and Choiseul Provinces.

Mr Viliko presented the cheque in a presentation ceremony in Mr Sogavare’s office.

Mr Viliko expressed the sympathy of the government and people of Niue for the lives lost in the calamity and the destruction it left behind at the occasion.

He said Niue had its own financial problems just as Solomon Islands but wanted to donate a little gift to symbolize its heartfelt empathy as well as love to its brothers and sisters of Solomon Islands who were affected by the disaster.

The Niuean Acting Police Minister said he purposely came to Honiara to present the gift.

He thanked Mr Sogavare for the Solomon Islands government’s support for Niue at regional meetings and expressed hope for the maintenance of that backing.

Prime Minister Sogavare said his government was touched by the overwhelming assistance pouring into the country for the disaster- affected people and Niue’s contribution was heartily appreciated.

He described the donation as huge in consideration of the size of Niue and assured it would go a long way in assisting the survivors of the Solomon Islands unprecedented natural disaster of April 2.

The Prime Minister said the emergency relief phase of the disaster assistance programme had ended and Solomon Islands was now moving into the next phase of reconstruction.

Mr Sogavare said the reconstruction phase would be more challenging as it would involve relocating people to higher grounds.

He meanwhile assured the Acting Niuean Police Minister of the Solomon Islands government’s support for Niue’s bid to host the 2008 Pacific Islands Forum Meeting.

Mr Sogavare said the Solomon Islands government would be officially conveying its support to the Niuean government to host the annual forum leaders’ summit in due course.

Mr Viliko arrived in Solomon Islands yesterday and will return to Niue tomorrow.

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