Groundbreaking of the Centre for Early Warnings and Emergencies
22 November, 2023. His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukālala was the Guest of Honour, who performed the groundbreaking of the National Centre for Early Warning and Emergencies, at Matatoa.
Tonga evidently needs urgent assistance, according to the World Bank’s 2014 Survey Report thus the establishment of the Pacific Resilience Program (PREP) Project in 2015. The PREP project is funded by the World Bank, to strengthen early warning, resilient investments and financial protection in Tonga.
Tonga’s vulnerability to natural hazards, have resulted in detrimental impacts on people and their livelihoods; environment; and Tonga’s development, such as Tropical Cyclones, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis.
Consequently, two Centres have been completed in Neiafu, Vava’u and Pangai, Ha’apai to empower early warnings and preparedness for natural disasters and emergencies, and to minimize possibilities of damage to occur.
The Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Emergency Centre in Ha’apai was commissioned in 2020; and the Vava’u Emergency and Coordination Centre in Neiafu, Vava’u in 2021.
The ground-breaking of the National Centre today, symbolizes a beacon of hope and assurance of resilience for Tonga.
It will be equipped with modern equipment and tools as well as trained staff to execute required responsibilities.
The Government of Tonga is the executing agency (EA) for the construction of these Centres, and the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communication (MEIDECC) is the implementation agency (IA), in collaborations with the Ministry of Education and Training; Ministry of Finance; and Ministry of Infrastructure, to achieve the set target.
The Design and Supervision Firm is Erasito Consultants Limited from Fiji, and the sub-consulltant is the ITS Pacific Limited in Tonga. The Puloka Construction Limited is contracted to do the construction, which is expected to be completed in the next sixteen months.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister, Hu’akavameiliku; members of the Diplomatic Corps; Ministers of Cabinet and members of Parliament; Chief Executive Officers and Directors of the Government Ministries; non-government organisations; stakeholders; representative from the World Bank, Erasito, and ITS; and PREP PMU.
