08th February 2017 Initial discussions were held on February 2 between representatives from the Tonga Ridge To Reef (R2R) project, the Waste Management Authority and Ms Ana Bing Fonua, the Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) on possible projects planned for the Tonga National Cultural Centre, opposite the Vaiola Hospital, in Havelu.
The R2R team was led by Project Manager Ms Ta’hirih Hokafonu while the Waste Management team was led by Mr Malakai Sika, the Chief Executive Officer.
Ms Ana Bing told the discussion that the Ministry and the TNCC wants to see how best proposed plans for waste management and eco-tourism could be moved forward, with the assistance of the R2R and Waste Management.
It was a fruitful discussion with the team now agreeing to meet and work together on seeing how best the planned projects can be implemented.
A short tour around the TNCC compound gave the meeting participants the opportunity to have a first hand view of what is now available and what could be done.
All parties agreed that the potential to make the centre a good eco-tourism site, supplementing the cultural activities already being offered there, was great.
Two jetties are already on the site, with the infrastructure to support tourism activities already in place.
On waste management, Mr Sika said that he and his team will look into how best waste can be managed at the centre, especially since the centre is now being hired out to members of the public for hosting of events.
The TNCC sits on the bank of the Fanga’uta Lagoon.
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Issued by the: Ministry of MEIDECC