A CONTRACT for the renovation of the Ha'apai Police station worth around $500,000 pa'anga was signed today by the Minister of Police, Hon Lisiate 'Akolo and the Managing Director of Willow Cove Industries Ltd Sione Tukuafu at the Police Headquarter, Longolongo.

Acting Police Commissioner Taniela Faletau said this project was also financed under the Tonga Police Development Program a tri-partite agreement signed between Tonga, Australia and New Zealand in July 2008.

Program Manager APC Soakai said that the renovation work on the existing one storey building at Pangai would include renovation of new roof, interior, bathroom facilities, existing cells and would put in a new parking area.

Contractor Sione Tukuafu said that they had two weeks to start mobilising the construction materials to Ha'apai and two from today's signing their renovation works. He expected the renovation on the 180 square metre building would be completed by the end of January 2012.

This is third major construction under the Tonga Police Development program following the opening of the new Vaini Police station costing $900,000 pa'anga last year, and just yesterday the opening of a new 'Ohonua Police station in 'Eua costing $1.1 million pa'anga.

Present at the signing was Superintendent Carl McLennan the Senior Police Advisor Superintendent Carl McLennan from the New Zealand Police and Anita Robertson from the Australian Federal Police.

TPDP

The Tonga Police Development Program signed in July 2008 is a five-year tri-partite program between Tonga, Australia and New Zealand to redevelop the Tonga Police in which New Zealand has committed $7.6 million up to 2012, while Australia has available up to AUD$2.6 million per year.