The Ministry of Infrastructure (MOI) announced that construction work for the Hunga Tonga Tsunami building project has been handed over to Chinese laborers currently in Tonga for other building projects.
The move comes after repeated failures by local contractors to deliver on the project. According to the MOI, local contractors were given an initial opportunity but could not meet expectations.
“The first group of contractors had their contracts cancelled, and new contractors were hired. However, that also did not work,” the ministry said in a statement.
As a result, hiring Chinese laborers became the only viable option to ensure the project’s completion.
The tsunami building project aims to improve disaster resilience after the 2022 eruption and tsunami.