The Vuna Wharf reconstructed at a cost of TOP$30 million is ready to be handed over to the Government of Tonga today, August 14, but no date has been set for when it will open for business.

The handover ceremony at the CBD square at 10:00am is for all the projects under the Nuku'alofa Central Business District Reconstruction, financed with a TOP$118 million loan to the Government of Tonga from China.

The wharf a major project in the reconstruction is expected to have its own opening ceremony later.

Mosese Lavemai the CEO of the Nuku'alofa Port Authority, said on August 3 that although the wharf was ready no date had been set for when it will be opened.

He said they wanted to hold a separate opening ceremony for the wharf and they were waiting on government to confirm a date. "But I hope that it will be opened before the end of the year so that it will be ready to welcome the cruiseships to Tonga in 2013," he said. 

Mosese said that all the work on the wharf had been completed, including security fencing and housing required.

Until Vuna Wharf opens, the cruiseships will continue to dock at the main Queen Salote Wharf for now until the wharf is opened, he said.

The Vuna wharf is under the Ports Authority, the body that controls all harbours in the capital.

Handover

China will officially handover the Nuku'alofa CBD projects to the Government of Tonga tomorrow, marking its completion.

Projects includes the Tungi Colonnade, Taumoepeau Building, O.G. Sanft Building, City Assets (Molisi Tonga Building), the renovation of the Royal Palace, Royco Building, the Vuna Wharf. And civil works included roads works repair, drainage and a public car park.