By Pesi Fonua

A Lapaha widow and mother of five, Fonongava‘inga Soakai Kautai, received a new two-bedroomed home today, reportedly valued at $120,000.

According to Siesi H. Fine, from the office of the Tongatapu Constituency No. 10, today’s handover was the first of 20,000 houses to be constructed and handed over to “the Poor and Down Trodden People of Tonga”. She said there would be 10,000 houses for Tongatapu, 5,000 for Vava’u, 2000 for Ha‘apai, 2000 for ‘Eua and 1000 for Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou, from one to four bedrooms.

Tongatapu no. 10 is the constituency of the Prime Minister Hon. Dr Pohiva Tu'ionetoa.

Information released from the office of the Tongatapu Constituency No. 10 said the “Housing Scheme for the Poor and Down Trodden People of Tonga” is a partnership between the Tonga People’s Party, the government and partners. The Wen Hao Lin Family is a donor partner and the house was constructed by Dexing Construction Ltd.

Most interesting is that this multimillion project was not mentioned in the 2020-21 National Budget that Parliament passed on 18 June.

Also interesting is that the dictionary definition of "downtrodden" means someone who is oppressed or treated badly by people in power.

Hand-over ceremony

The guest of honour was HSH Prince Kalaniuvalu-Fotofili, at a launching ceremony this morning presided over by the Prime Minister.

The construction of these houses will be carried out by Dexing Construction Co. Ltd. of Tofoa. Although it was said that the first house of the project was valued $120,000 but the Wen Hao Lin Family, a donor partner for the project and, presumably, the owner of the Dexing construction Co. Ltd., built the House for $80,000.

Present at the launching of this multimillion pa’anga housing scheme were the party treasurer Hon. Poasi Tei, the (PR for Tongatapu 6); the party secretary Hon. Tevita Lavemaau (PR for 'Eua 11); and Hon. ‘Akosita Lavulavu, party member (PR for Vava'u 16).

Hon. Poasi Tei is the Minister for MEIDECC, and Acting Minister of Health; and Hon. Tevita Lavemaau is the Minister of Finance, Revenue and Customs and Hon. ‘Akosita Lavulavu is the Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism.

Political parties

The Prime Minister, Hon. Dr Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa formed the People’s Party before he was elected in September 2019 to complete the term in office of the former Prime Minister, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva and the Paati Temokalati ‘a e ‘Otu Felenite (PATOA). Hon. Dr Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, Hon. Poasi Tei and Hon. Tevita Lavemaau, were Cabinet Ministers in the late Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s government.

Tonga will have its next General Election in November 2021. Currently, Tongan politics are unstable because although members of parliament have divided themselves into two political parties, but Tonga's system of government was not structured to be administered under a political party system of government.