The Tongan government undertook to provide rubbish bins to public places, remove unsafe derelict properties and employ staff to look after public toilets at the capital as part of its move to prepare Vavaʻu for big events in June.
Thousands of Tongan visitors and tourists from overseas were expected to attend the Free Wesleyan Church conference, the 70th anniversary of Siuʻilikutapu Mailefihi college and His Majesty King Tupou VI’s 57 birthday in June as well as the Royal Agricultural Show in July.
The 94th Conference and the school anniversary will be held in Vavaʻu while the Agricultural Show will begin there before it will continue on to other islands.
Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva was in Vavaʻu with a government delegation on Tuesday to talk with authorities about the preparations.
Tonga Tourism Minister Hon. Sēmisi Sika said the events would bring huge advantages to the kingdom.
He said the Prime Minister wanted a government-led cleanup and beautification campaign to begin in Neiafu immediately after they met with the Vavaʻu governor on Wednesday.
He said there were derelict properties and abandoned buildings in Neiafu which make the capital look untidy, unsafe for the public and could keep visitors off coming back.
There were no rubbish bins at public places and at the ‘Utukalongalu market, litter and garbage were seen almost everywhere, the Minister said.
He said the government pledged to provide garbage bins to the market and encourage the public to use them for their litter.
There was plan to upgrade public toilet facilities at the wharf in Neiafu and the government undertook to employ staff to manage and look after them.
He said the toilet facilities were closed when they arrived but they should open to the public.
Hon. Sika said the government considered building a fence around the Vaikolēlea historical site and erect a placard with its history there for the visitors.
He said the delegation also met with leaders from private sectors, head of governments, town and district officers and they had welcomed the government’s proposals.
The delegation also visited public roads in Hahake and Hihifo as well as heavy machinery at the Ministry of Infrastructure which the Minister said they no longer working.
A vacant building behind the Police station was ordered by the Prime Minister to be demolished while they were there.
Hon. Sika said Vavaʻu Police and the Prisons Department workers pulled down the building as part of the cleanup campaign.
