Thousands join in big Tonga clean-up campaign [1]
Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 13:51. Updated on Tuesday, July 21, 2015 - 11:30.
The biggest and most ambitious clean-up Tonga campaign was launched on Saturday July 21 with huge support from thousands of people in a bid to not only clean-up the islands but to forever change attitudes toward littering and to restore pride in the community.
A two month long, nationwide clean-up program was initiated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who reported that 13,200 people from all faiths participated in the community service in 25 different locations, in 'Eua, Ha'apai, Vava'u and twenty locations across Tongatapu.
The initiative was organized by the 'Mormon Helping Hands' volunteer service program, to prepare for the celebrations surrounding the re-dedication of the Nuku'alofa Temple.
"We wanted to do something that would bring everyone together in a common cause," said Elder Sione Fineanganofo, leader of The Church of Jesus Christ in Tonga. "There will be lots of visitors to the islands because everyone is invited to our Temple's public open house, that starts on September 29. We want the Island to look its very best."
Tonga will also be hosting the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in October.
Prime Minister
Tonga's Prime Minister Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele, his wife and granddaughter joined Elder Fineanganofo at Fa'onelua Park to greet the volunteers. The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the Church, for initiating the campaign, and to all citizens for coming together to beautify Tonga. The Prime Minister and his wife then were the first to pick up rubbish and worked side by side with other volunteers.
Volunteers were involved in painting more than 25 large buildings using more than 2,000 litres of donated paint. Five buildings were painted at the Vaini Government Primary School in addition to one building and a bathroom at the Lotolu Primary School. Eight buildings were painted at the Tonga College, Atele, and the clinic at Kolonga was also painted. A high school was painted in Vava'u and one in Ha'apai. Six classroom buildings and three smaller buildings were painted at the Nuku'alofa Government Primary School.
One group of volunteers gathered at the domestic airport. They cleaned up rubbish and hauled away 15 truck-loads of green grass to various farms to feed the cattle.
The trucks that hauled the rubbish were donated by local citizens and businessmen like Ross Chapman. The use of the trucks was coordinated by the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Tapu Panuve. John Gildea and Luseane 'Aho, of the Waste Management Authority, arranged to have their three large compactor trucks help in hauling off the rubbish.
The volunteers reported that they were often approached by local residents expressing their heartfelt thanks and many residents also came to the street to offer food and water to the workers.
The 'Mormon Helping Hands' campaign will continue each Saturday morning for the next eight weeks and will conclude on September 15 with the 'Clean Up the World' campaign, that is co-sponsored by the LDS Church the Waste Management Authority.