The Tonga government is planning to convert seawater into drinking water for the outer islands during the current drought caused by El Niño conditions across the southern region of the Pacific.

The Prime Minister, Hon, Hu'akavameiliku said today that the drought season is a pressing issue, especially for the outer islands. 

"The government's main concern is to provide sufficient water resources for the outer islands," he told a media briefing at St George Government building in Nuku'alofa. 

The government is now working together with MEIDECC to provide desalination machines for the outer islands, for converting seawater into drinkable water.

At the media briefing the Prime Minister, who has recently returned from overseas, mentioned a range of issues.

By-election

The Prime Minister confirmed that the Minister of Health, Hon. Dr Saia Piukala, would step down from his roles in the Government, both as Minister and as a Member of Parliament, early next year, after his appointment is confirmed as the Regional Director with the World Health Organisation.

Following his resignation, Tonga will hold a by-election to elect a new People's Representative to fill his Vava'u no. 14 seat.

A new Minister of Health has yet to be named.

Lulutai Airlines

Hon Hu'akavameiliku, said that a new aircraft for Tonga's domestic service, a de-Havilland Twin-Otter, had touched down in Australia for final preparations ahead of its entry into service in Tonga. 

It was expected to arrive in Tonga last month, but due to “legal reasons” the process of releasing the new aircraft from China was slower than expected.

The Prime Minister said that efforts were being made to finish the aircraft by November or before the holiday travel season reached its peak.

Fibre-optic Cable

The Prime Minister confirmed that a second international fibre-optic cable is planned for the future. Co-funded by the Australian and New Zealand Governments, the new cable will be installed through Vava’u, with the intention to provide an alternative connection for the country.

"With this second cable, it will help to prevent or lessen the possibilities of another total communications black-out," he said.

So far, the funding phase has been finalized, the next step is to install the cable, which could take up to two years, he said.

Meetings overseas

The Prime Minister confirmed he would leave Tonga soon to attend a few overseas meetings.

- PIFLM52 in Cook Islands from 6-10 November 2023.
- South Pacific Defence Ministers' Meeting in New Caledonia for two days in the first week December.
- COP28 in Dubai, from 30 November to 12 December 2023.