Minister of Public Enterprises, Piveni Piukala, has expressed growing frustration over the lack of transparency surrounding the construction of approximately 60 prefabricated houses built for last year’s Pacific Islands Forum.
Officials have yet to provide a detailed report on the project’s costs, contractors, and future use, he claimed during a press conference this afternoon in Nuku’alofa.
It follows the Auditor General’s report last week, which stated he found no receipts or records of how the $60 million Covid fund was spent. Former Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku claimed that no funds were missing.
The prefab houses, constructed from repurposed shipping containers, were installed across multiple sites in Tongatapu, including 16 on Vaha’akolo Road, 30 on Kausela Road, and over 30 in Sopu.
An additional 60 units in Popua, intended to later operate as a hotel to boost tourism, were also built.
Mr Piukala alleged that the project was poorly planned and provided little tangible benefit for the Pacific Leaders’ meeting.
He claimed that most delegates and travellers stayed elsewhere during the event.
“Pea kou fiu hono ‘eke lipooti ko ia a’u mai ki he ‘aho ni ke nau ‘omai ha fakaikiiki,” he said in Tongan.
In English, he said: “And I have been requesting that report until today for details.”
He noted that the 60 houses constructed in Niu Lodge village at Popua were under the Crown Prince’s authority.
Comparing the project to Lulutai Airlines, he emphasised the need for detailed financial reports on the expenses.
Launching the Forum in Nuku’alofa last year, Hu’akavameiliku said he “committed to ensuring that the 2024 Forum Leaders Meeting is focused on results”.
He also said: “It is my ambition that Leader’s carefully examine the implementation of all key initiatives that have been put in place over the past few years, with a view to monitoring and measuring the tangible outcomes that have been produced- after all, Pacific regionalism is first and foremost about the countries and the territories of the Pacific working together for the purpose of achieving more effective results and impacts at the national and community levels.”
