Tuvalu’s Prime Minister Feleti Teo has moved into a newly renovated residence.
The renovation, which also included the Governor General’s residence, was initially launched by former Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga in 2017.
However, the project faced delays due to other priorities, such as the construction of bungalows for the Pacific Leaders’ Group in 2018 and the Pacific Islands Leaders’ Meeting in 2019, followed by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Work resumed in 2020, and the new residence was finally completed this year.
The $2.7 million (US$1.8 million) building spans 36 meters in length and 25 meters in width, with four bedrooms, including a master suite.
It is equipped with a water cistern that can provide water for up to nine months and a seawall for protection, as it sits near the lagoon.
Prime Minister Teo expressed his joy at being the first to live in the residence and praised the Public Works Department staff for their commitment to completing the long-awaited project.