Tonga’s parliament prays for start of Pacific Games construction work
Thursday, June 30, 2016 - 19:02
Tonga’s construction of sporting facilities, in preparation for the 2019 Pacific Games will start “not long from now,” Hon. Fe’ao Vakata, told the Tongan Parliament on Tuesday, 28 June, during a budget debate that was flavoured with biblical readings.
Please subscribe to access premium content.
Comments
I would be extra cautious
I would be extra cautious with deep sea mining, because it could be hugely damaging to the environment, during mining and also in the case of an accident. Better to wait till it has been thoroughly tested and proven safe for a number of years overseas before we even consider it safe enough to use in Tonga.
Many of us in Tonga think we are a poor country because we lack natural resources, so they look to deep sea mining as the only way to become rich. It is a narrow view. There has been the leadership problem, but also when we lack natural resources, a nation can still become more wealthy by focusing on adding value on imported goods and then exporting it overseas. There's a variety of ways towards this. Perhaps we should turn Small Industries Centre or another area into a Free trade Zone (FTZ) as a start.