The capital's rubbish dump at Popua near Nuku'alofa, has been the source of headaches for the residents in the nearby areas with frequent burning and smoke as experienced on Christmas day.

A recent BBC documentary on the South Pacific showed mothers and their children scavenging at the Nuku'alofa dump, leaving Tongans wondering when their authorities will get around to doing something about the continuing problems at the dump.

Te'efoto Mausia, the person who oversees the dump said that the Ministry of Health made a public announcement on December 24, stopping unauthorised people from going into the dump site other than to dump their rubbish.

However, Te'efoto was doubtful that the announcement would stop people from fossicking in the dump, and he believed that the only solution is for the Ministry was to build a fence around the dump site to keep scavengers out.