Following deliberations in parliament on Monday where the MP for Tongatapu Constituency No.10 asked for clarification from government, Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku told parliament on Tuesday that Chinese workers, involved in a government wind farm project at the village of Lapaha, had apologized for working last Sunday,
Kapelieli Lanumata, MP for Tongatapu Constituency No.10, raised the issue during parliament deliberations on Monday, questioning the government on why the Chinese workers were allowed to operate in his constituency on Sunday.
MP Lanumata told parliament that he visited a construction site on Sunday to confirm what he had heard. He said that the wind turbine works on Sunday at 3 separate sites in Lapaha were committed a few times before.
The Prime Minister admitted he was unaware of the incident and that he will investigate further, reporting back to parliament.
According to the PM, the workers said that last Saturday’s heavy rain was the reason for continuing their construction work on Sunday.
But it remains unclear from the PM’s report as to why government authorities were not aware of situation nor why the workers went ahead despite knowing Sunday work is prohibited.
An image and video showing the alleged workers at the Lapaha site called Anaheu circulated on social media early Monday morning.
According to Tonga’s Order in Public Places Act, Sunday work is illegal unless permitted for emergencies or granted by the Minister of Police with the approval of Cabinet.
The construction work at Lapaha is reportedly part of a wind farm energy project under the Ministry of MEIDECC. The Minister for MEIDECC was not in parliament when the issue was discussed this week.