is largest
p. 12 · Read in the full issue
Aid program is largest
I refer to Mr Telavi Fati’s letter published in your January edition which concerned Tuva lu’s inter-island passenger and cargo ship the MV Nivaga.
Mr Fati is mistaken in his assertion that Britain has not agreed to replace this vessel. A contract for a new-ship was placed with Richards (Shipbuil ders) Ltd of Lowestoft for the equivalent of AsB million at the start of this year. The new vessel will be delivered to Tuva lu in mid-1988.
Meanwhile Britain will con tinue to meet the annual slip ping costs of the MV Nivaga which over the past five years
have amounted to A 5900,000.
As to Mr Fati’s remarks about British assistance to Tuvalu, I will only observe that UK bilate ral aid to that country in the period 1980-1985 amounted to approximately A 522.0 million or the equivalent of $2,750 for every man, woman and child in the island group.
In per capita terms, our Tuvalu program is one of our largest worldwide and our track record is unmatched by any other donor.
David Taylor
Assistant Head, British Deve lopment Division in the Pacific.