The Prime Minister, Hon Dr Feleti Vaka'uta Sevele, officially opened the new administrative office for the Vaini District, Tongatapu yesterday evening, 29 October.

The office is situated at Lopaukamea II, which is the meeting hall and office complex of the Tonga College Ex-Students Association, at Manamo'ui, Ha'ateiho. This new office will serve as the home base for the District Officer of the Vaini District, Soape Tu'iono, as well as the Town Officers of the 9 villages in the district.

According to Pita Vuki, Deputy Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, this is the first of seven offices that the Government will set up and equip for all the seven districts of Tongatapu before the end of December this year. Next year, they will also facilitate the setting up of similar offices in all the districts of the islands of Ha'apai, Vava'u, Niuas and 'Eua. The new office for the Vaini District is equipped with a personal computer, printer, telephone, photocopier, and telephones.

Pita Vuki said, "The District and Town Officers are the first point of contact between all government departments and the public. This is the first time that they will be provided with office space and clerical assistance to help them carry out their roles as elected administrators of their districts."

The District and Town Officers have been elected every 3 years since 1957. Prior to that, they were appointed directly by the Prime Minister of the day. Although they now receive a basic salary and a stipend from government, which depends on the size of their districts and towns, they have to more or less fend for themselves. They normally operate from their homes but this has not always been a satisfactory arrangement as members of the public are sometimes reluctant to approach them at their homes because of cultural, familial or political sensitivities.

The District of Vaini includes the nine villages of Vaini, Folaha, Nukuhetulu, Longoteme, Pea, Tokomololo, Ha'ateiho, Veitongo, and Malapo. PMO, 29/10/09.