New barge to help Ha'apai reconstruction [1]
Tuesday, September 16, 2014 - 19:36. Updated on Thursday, September 18, 2014 - 13:31.
A new barge, the Talafale was handed over to the Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano today to assist with the reconstruction in Ha’apai, after the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Ian in January.
Funded by the World Bank with more than NZ$200,000, the aluminium barge is 9m long and 4m wide from New Zealand.
Saia Faletau the Liaison Officer for the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank in Nuku’alofa said the barge is for the Ha'apai Reconstruction Project in Ha’apai to help transport building materials between the outer islands in Ha'apai.
He said the assistance was a request from the Tongan government because of the difficulty in transporting building materials to these smaller islands.
Kelela Tonga, the Director of the Marine and Ports Division of the Ministry of Infrastructure, said the barge would greatly help the Ministry and contractors to transfer building materials and equipment from Pangai to its outer islands, like Mo'unga'one, when the reconstruction project starts.
She said no date had been set at this stage for delivery of the barge to Ha‘apai.
The Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure Lord Tu'ivakano, took a short trip on the barge accompanied by the CEO of the Ministry Infrastructure Ringo Fa’oliu and officials, at Faua Wharf in Nuku'alofa.