Popua Project worry Tongans Featured
Letter to the Editor
Popua Project worry Tongans
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Editor,
Tonga was recently ranked second on the World Risk Index’s ‘2018 Disaster Risk’ list. I think many Tongans, including myself, are concerned over what is occurring with the Government’s development projects at Popua and this recent ranking only reinforces our worries.
Wetlands and swampy areas play an important role in protecting coastlines from the impacts of destructive swells and sediment erosion. By replacing them with imported sand and rock using questionable engineering methods we expose ourselves, and the communities living there, to greater risk. Tonga's resilience becomes reduced as a whole.
The canals that have been dug - multiple are evident from satellite imagery - are also concerning in the erratic way that they have been constructed. The worst of them is the main canal draining directly from the newly built park through the wetland and into the coastline. This will act as a funnel for any chemicals or toxins from the ill-managed Tukutonga dump rehabilitation site to seep into the marine life that is consumed by all of Tongatapu.
Someone in the Government must speak up and take action or they will be held accountable by future generations who are impacted by these decisions.
Faka’apa’apa ‘atu,
Tevita ‘Ita.
3 comments
-
I for one don't really know whats the story behind the Popua Project and the impact it'll have on the environment , but as with anything that may or will have an impact on peoples livelihood and health it is a concern . Sometimes in our quest to improve our life style we over look what's more important and the consequences it'll have on future generation . Wetlands are important to the well being of any ecosystem ; but also it has its down side too , it breeds mosquito thereby becoming a health hazard requiring drainage . For small land areas like Tongatapu
Drainage poses a dilemma because there is no other way to drain the water but to the sea , which is also another concern as pollutant find its way, via the drainage system into the surrounding coastline , whereby it affects bird life and sea life as well . Surely a sewerage treatment plant is a priority . -
It's a national habitat and it should be preserved
-
How many percent of the Tongan are worry don’t mislead the people how about the drainage from vaiola hospital to the fangatua lagoon or the Rubbish dump at tapuhia have had any concerns where will be the toxic waste gonna end up. It is shameful to see editor writing this bias article aiming for the people to have hateful opinion at government development programs. Stop giving negative attitudes and let helps the nation to a better standard Tuku ae fkanga ka tau teke fktaha ke tau ngaunu kihe tonga oku laulotaha ihe pasifiki