A petrol shortage in Vava’u could cost the region millions of dollars as businesses close down.
And the head of the Ministry of Tourism’s Vava’u office, Pulono Toke, told Radio Australia this evening that it could be six weeks before the crisis was resolved.
Toke said the government had hired a ship in Singapore to run the fuel service, but it would take a month-and-a-half for the vessel to reach Tonga.
Toke said some petrol and diesel was reaching the island, but not enough to keep the tourism industry going.
President of the Vava’u Tourism Association Calvin Schumaker told Kaniva News tonight the region faced a potential economic shutdown within the next two to three weeks if the situation was not resolved.
“We are in crisis mode here in Vava’u,” Schumaker said.
“Our whale watching industry is pulling boats out of the water and finishing the whale watching industry a full month and a half early.
“This is going to put us at a significant loss, potentially TP$10 million or more.
“The outer island resorts are being forced to possibly close their doors as well. This also is going to lead to a substantial loss in money for this country. Possible losses are upwards of $TP2 million.
“Restaurants are being affected because tourists cannot make it to the restaurants due to taxis not running, food not being brought to the market, and shopping not being available.”
He claimed there were near riots in the street when petrol does leak into the community, with people waiting up to eight hours for $20TOP worth of petrol.
Shumaker blamed the fuel shortage on the loss of the fuel barge that used to bring in fuel from Nuku’alofa. He said the barge had been sold and not replaced.
In an interview with Radio New Zealand, Schumaker said Pacific Energy has told locals it would have a vessel in Vava’u waters within two weeks.
Other shipping services to the outer islands have been disrupted this year with the government ferry M.V. ‘Otuanga’ofa out of action for five months.
The Tongan government has hired an Australian catamaran to fill in for the MV ‘Otuanga’ofa while it is undergoing service and repair in Fiji.
The main points
- A petrol shortage in Vava’u could cost the region millions of dollars as businesses close down.
- And the head of the Ministry of Tourism’s Vava’u office, Pulono Toke, told Radio Australia this evening that it could be six weeks before the crisis was resolved.
- Toke said the government had hired a ship in Singapore to run the fuel service, but it would take a month-and-a-half for the vessel to reach Tonga.
- President of the Vava’u Tourism Association Calvin Schumaker told Kaniva News tonight the region faced a potential economic shutdown within the next two to three weeks if the situation was not resolved.
For more information
Tonga’s Vava’u running on empty (Radio New Zealand)
No regular fuel service to Vava’u for at least six weeks (Radio Australia)
