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<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Thanks Solo for this update and great to learn of the increase in payment to persons with disabilities in Tonga’s COVID-19 stimulus package. It will also
be good to find out from our member DPOs in Tonga more about the statement … “”</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#404441;background:yellow">Meanwhile, people with disabilities will be offered over $US85 each alongside
their allowances, from next week.” It doesn’t specify if it is a one-off payment and for how long it will go on for. I note in the same announcement that r</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#404441">etirees will receive
over $US42 each along with their monthly allowance for March and April.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Seta<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Setareki S. Macanawai</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Chief Executive Officer</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Pacific Disability Forum</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Ground Floor, Kadavu House, Victoria Parade | GPO Box 18458 | Suva, Fiji
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Phone: (+679) 3312008 | (+679) 3307530
</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Mobile: (+679) 9921486 (Vodaphone) | (+679) 7082891(Digicel)</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Fax: (+679) 3310469</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Skype: setareki.macanawai
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Email:
</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="color:black"><a href="mailto:ceo@pacificdisability.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">ceo@pacificdisability.org</span></a></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">
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</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="color:black"><a href="http://www.pacificdisability.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">www.pacificdisability.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><b><i><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Organisation in special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Commission since 2012.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> Pdf-staff [mailto:pdf-staff-bounces@lists.pacificdisability.org]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Soloveni Vitoso<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, 6 April 2020 3:13 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> pdflist@lists.pacificdisability.org; pdf-members@lists.pacificdisability.org<br>
<b>Cc:</b> pdf-staff@lists.pacificdisability.org<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Pdf-staff] Tongan Gov COVID - 19 Stimulus Package<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><b><span style="font-size:36.0pt;color:black;letter-spacing:-.35pt">Tonga announces 'Covid-19' stimulus package</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:12.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#6D7570;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm">5:59 pm on 2 April 2020</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:white;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm;background:#007BB6"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/413292/tonga-announces-covid-19-stimulus-package" target="_blank" title="Share on Linked In"><span style="color:#0563C1">Share
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<p style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#404441">Tonga's government has announced an economic and social stimulus package worth $US25.5 million to help the country through the impacts of the global Covid-19
pandemic.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#404441"> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-line-height-alt:13.15pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#404441;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm">Tonga PM, Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa
</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#B3B3AC;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm">Photo: Tonga government</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#404441">
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#404441">In making the announcement, the government pointed out the economy had suffered losses worth nearly $US15 million due to the restrictions caused by the
coronavirus.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#404441">The government said the package could change over the next three months depending on the course Covid-19 took in Tonga.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#404441">There were currently no confirmed cases in the country but the regional situation led to the government implementing a State of Emergency, a closure of
the borders, restrictions on gatherings and a temporary lockdown, including a nightly curfew.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#404441">Prime Minister Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa said the new package had been established to aid vulnerable groups and people most affected by the current crisis.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#404441">The Ministry of Customs and Revenue Chief Executive Kelemete Vahe said every tax imposed on goods and services within Tonga would be deferred until 30
June, except for PAYEE.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#404441">Mr Vahe said goods imported to Tonga in order to revive the tourism sector as well as fisheries and agriculture would also be duty free until 30 June.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#404441">Around $US426,000 would be used to strengthen food stock, while the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture received around $US937,000 from the emergency
package.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#404441">Over $US2 million had also been allocated to the Ministry of Health, while the Ministry of Education had been given $US1.6 million.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#404441">The Reserve Bank put over $US2 million towards Tonga Development Bank soft loans for micro businesses and other groups.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#404441">The government also allocated over $US21,000 to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to assist community patrol officers and other community related services.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#404441">Retirees will receive over $US42 each along with their monthly allowance for March and April.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#404441;background:yellow">Meanwhile, people with disabilities will be offered over $US85 each alongside their allowances, from next week.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#404441">Employees who had been laid off from work due to the Covid-19 situation were eligible to receive an allowance which would also be made available next week.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/413292/tonga-announces-covid-19-stimulus-package" title="https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/413292/tonga-announces-covid-19-stimulus-package
Ctrl+Click or tap to follow the link"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;color:#0563C1">https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/413292/tonga-announces-covid-19-stimulus-package</span></a></span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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