By Mary Lyn Fonua

After the Prime Minister's Office announced yesterday the Government's approval for a multi-million dollar redevelopment of the Lupepau'u Airport, Vava'u, citing a private proposal involving Tongan nationals and foreign investment, they have further clarified today that a full proposal has not been received.

Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet, Edgar Cocker told Matangi Tonga this morning that their press release did not mean that Government had granted approval for a recently formed company Raw Mana Ltd. to undertake the project.

“We still have to seriously look at it,” he said. “It's a huge proposal.”

Yesterday the PMO press release stated that: “The project commences with an initial due diligence and feasibility study in November 2021 with redevelopment completion in 2024. The project will be developed by a United Kingdom company Raw Mana Ltd. ...Raw Mana were chosen to lead the project after being referred to the Tongan Government.”

The PMO also stated that: “the estimated US$121m project will be funded from foreign investment,” that will see the terminal replaced, and the building of a new 2,700m extended runway for long-range aircraft to provide direct access to Vava'u from many destinations, including the US, UAE, Japan and China.

“The Prime Minister and Government of Tonga look forward to initiating this important project in collaboration with Raw Mana and key stakeholders...,” PMO stated on October 20.

Edgar clarified today that when they stated “Government” they meant “the Cabinet”.

What they meant by “approval” was that: “Cabinet approved a team to look at the proposal.”

“They have a proposal assessment team, which includes myself,” he said. Other members of the assessment team would come from relevant Ministries, including Tourism, Finance, Trade and Public Enterprises.

“It's an approval in principle.”

He said he did not know the local representative in the PMO press release referred to as ‘Palms Tonga’.

“It's something that was submitted. We are not closing the door.”

Edgar said the referral to the Government came from Public Enterprises. The people who submitted the proposal had first consulted with the Palace Office, before it was passed on to the Ministry.

“We are not saying a full yes,” Edgar said, stressing that due diligence was required and no one knows what the outcome will be – just like other private investment proposals made in Tonga.

Foreign Investment regulations changed

When asked if the Cabinet had approved, in principle, a majority private ownership of what would become the largest airport in Tonga, Edgar said: “I cannot comment on that, but I can tell you the Foreign Investment regulations have changed.”

He explained that the ‘Essential Services’ that were previously listed under the Reserved activities, for domestic Tongan investors only, had been deleted. Essential services were now under the Restricted List, whereby Tongan counterparts are required for activities carried on by an overseas person.

Raw Mana Ltd. announces a signed project

Meanwhile, the UK company Raw Mana Ltd. announced on its new website that it had signed a $121M USD project for the redevelopment of Vava'u International Airport in the South Pacific.

Who is Raw Mana Limited?

The UK Business Registry shows that Raw Mana Ltd. was incorporated in the United Kingdom with a stated capital of GBP100 on 21 July 2020. The company changed its registered office from a private address to a Business Centre in New Malden in June 2021.

Former Tongan rugby player, Sililo Victor Martens (44) was appointed a director on 22 April this year, along with Ms Miriama Mahuika.

Sililo, who settled in South Wales and went into business, is also known for his acting roles in Welsh soap opera and also in a film, with fellow Tongan 'Epeli Taione.

Raw Mana Ltd. hired a New Zealand public relations firm, Impact PR, aiming to promote the multi-million Vava'u airport development through international news releases yesterday. It stated the mangement team includes Tongan nationals Havea L. Gatti (CEO) and Sililo Martens, New Zealander Miriama Mahuika and UK-based Neil Hodson.

Havea Gatti, of Tongan and Italian descent, founded a construction and property development company Gatti Homes Ltd., in Surrey, UK.

“Gatti says the Vava'u Group development project would not be possible without the support of His Majesty King Tupou VI, the High Commission of Tonga in London, UK, Palms Tonga and the Tongan Tourism Authority, who they will engage with fully on all tourism activities,” Impact PR stated.

“Gatti says the multiple funding sources are accessible with a final decision to be made prior to the start of the development.”

They also stated that talks are currently underway with New Zealand architects and other specialist workers from NZ who “will also be potentially utilised on the development.”

A promotional website presents the company as an international civil engineering contractor for airports and other infrastructure, property development in the South Pacific, and steel manufacturing. It features generic illustrations and architects’ impressions, and also solicits investment packages.

Meanwhile, Sililo had also registered a Tongan company in January 2020 with one share in his name, located at Haveluloto. He changed the company name from No. 9 Group Ltd. to Raw Mana Ltd. on 19 February 2021. The Tongan company is currently flagged by the Tonga Business Registry for failing to submit its Annual Return compliance.

See also: 6 April 2021 PM dreams of big int'l airport for Vava'u plus two inter-island bridges [2]