A new $1.2 million pa‘’anga Administration Building for the Ministry of Justice was officially opened this morning by HM King Taufa‘ahau Tupou IV at Hala Lavinia, Kolofo'ou, Nuku‘alofa.

The two-storey building with 35 rooms and a total floor space of 950 square meters will accommodate the offices of the Minister of Justice, the Bailiff, and the Probation office. The new building was financed entirely by the government of Tonga.

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, the Hon Siaosi Taimani ...‘Aho, said that the new building was the start of a development program for the Ministry of Justice.

He said that Phase Two was the construction of a new building in the same compound to accommodate the Supreme Courts, its offices and the Crown Law Department. Siaosi said that the complete development program aims at bringing all the branches of the Ministry of Justice into one area. The ministry is currently scattered all over town - the Minister had his office at the Westpac Bank of Tonga Building at Hala Lelue; while Crown Law is at Royco Building, Hala Fatafehi; the Supreme Court in the Parliament House compound; and the Bailiff and the Probation Office were in the former government store next to the new building.

The new Ministry of Justice was constructed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, the same company that is just finishing off the new Tonga High School complex.

The construction of the new building started in June 2004 and was completed on March 10, 2005.