A charter flight taking Tonga's athletes to the Pacific Mini Games will go ahead today after the government finally followed through with some funds.
It had agreed to cover the full cost of the flights to Port Vila two weeks ago but a payment deadline from Air Vanuatu passed without any contact from the government.
Team Tonga will travel to Port Vila on an Air Vanuatu charter flight. Photo: Air Vanuatu
TASANOC Secretary General Takitoa Taumoepeau said a meeting was held on Tuesday to resolve the impasse, with the government ultimately offering to contribute a much smaller amount.
"What we had requested to government we only got one third of that amount, which was about 165-166 thousands - so there was no point of asking back," he said.
"We called a special meeting for the participating national federations to resolve a way forward and we all agreed let's look at this, government has asked us to commit for the other two thirds so the national federations agreed for that.
"So now we are working on that and luckily we finally managed through some residual funds in our accounts, TASANOC, to secure the first wave of the flight, which they required about $US46,00 (from a total cost of more than $US160,000) so the charter is on and the national federations asked that we maintain the three waves (of flights to Vanuatu) that we originally proposed."
TASANOC's Takitoa Taumoepeau. Photo: TASANOC Facebook
Takitoa Taumoepeau said the government did not give a reason why they did not fulfil their pledge to pay the full cost of the charter flight.
"The two representatives from Ministry of Internal Affairs Responsible for Sports I think assured or said to the meeting at the time (the initial request was made) that the government would fund the full total cost of the travel," he said.
"Because we agreed - TASANOC and the competing national federations agreed - that we would request government to cover the flight but the team would be responsible by the individual national federations and TASANOC would cover other costs, administration costs and also the outfit and any other related cost."
"It was just mentioned (at the Special Meeting on Tuesday evening) that they would only consider one third - again, there was not much time for us to go back because (Wednesday) is a public holiday and everybody is involved with preparing for the welcoming back of the Mate Ma'a Tonga (rugby league) team," he said.
"So we looked at the whole scenario - we all agreed that let's resolve and work a way forward with what is on the table then we will look at the end of the Games."
The Tonga government is covering the cost of the Mate Ma'a Tonga squad flying home following Wednesday's celebrations and Takitoa Taumoepeau said while TASANOC was happy for their success at the Rugby League World Cup "at the same time we also have other sports commitment that we have hopes and aspirations of all these young athletes."