The new Taufa’āhau Tupou IV Domestic wharf is still not opened for public services, with Deputy Prime Minister Hon Sēmisi Sika reportedly blaming delay on Cyclone Gita.
However, the new wharf building, which was funded by a multi-million dollar grant from Japan, is open to host any community functions.
The Liahona-Sainehā High Schools alumni were the first to use the new wharf building early this month for their global reunion celebrations.
Hon Sēmisi Sika, who is one of the leaders of the alumni association, said hundreds of members of the alumni came from overseas left a lot of money in Tonga.
They also donated a lot of money for the Tongan alumni chapter, but Hon Sika did not give an exact figure.
Hon Sika said the building, which was built under the Japanese TP$66 million grant, was open to people who wanted to use it for any community events and it was free.
King Tupou VI opened the Domestic Terminal on June 1, separating the domestic wharf from the International wharf known as Queen Sālote and the Cruise ship wharf known as Vuna.
Kaniva News reported Tongan Port Authorities CEO Mōsese Lavemai at the time as saying the new domestic wharf was “the most advanced and modern in the Pacific except Australia and New Zealand.”
Hon Sika reportedly said the wharf and dock areas were still not available for public services because of the damage caused by Tropical cyclone Gita in February.
He said the Fā’onelua convention centre had been damaged by Gita, leaving Nuku’alofa with hardly any good public community buildings to host big events.
Hon Sika said the Japanese government was aware of the situation.
For more information:
King names new domestic wharf after his father – Taufa’āhau Tupou IV
