The ground-breaking ceremony that was scheduled for September 28 to mark the beginning of the reconstruction of the Nuku'alofa Central Business District CBD has been postponed indefinitely.

Tukua Tonga the Head of the Planning and Urban Management Division of the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Natural Resources said yesterday, Oct 2 that the reason for the postponement is because a $118 million from China that has been earmarked for the reconstruction work "has not been finalized."

Tukua said that no new date has been set yet for the groundbreaking ceremony. The ground breaking ceremony, and the reconstruction of Nuku'alofa are on hold awaiting the approval of the Chinese loan.

It is nearly a year since the 16/11 riot last year that destroyed about 80% of the Nuku'alofa CBD. The reconstruction of the capital is becoming more urgent as we are getting closer to the coronation date of King George Tupou V, August 1 2008.