On the streets of Nuku’alofa, the rush is on to complete two hundred container houses to provide much needed accommodation for this year’s Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting, to be held in August.
Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni has even asked residents to open up their private homes to visitors. More than one-thousand rooms will be needed to fully accommodate visitors attending the event.
“Basically we book some of the accommodations, available accommodations like you know Tanoa and all that. We also put up an expression of interest to private homes who actually want to put up their homes for renting,” said the Prime Minister.
Mia Ramanlal is one resident who is offering her family home for rent, and she’s rushing to get it ready in time.
“We’re renting it out for about seven days…we’re buying everything all in the one time and staffing, and we have to get extra workers to come in to help us get it ready,” said Ramanlal.