WELLINGTON (Pacnews) — News that China is set to bail out Tonga’s struggling economy has been welcomed by a Hamilton policeman, sent to help keep the peace after November’s riots in the Pacific nation.
The riots destroyed more than 80 percent of the central business district in the capital Nuku’alofa and left a repair bill in the millions.
Tongan Prime Minister Dr. Fred Sevele has just returned from a visit to China and said they had agreed to assist in rebuilding Nuku’alofa.
China has announced grants of about $4 million to Tonga, some of which will go toward improving health facilities in Vava’u and Tongatapu while the details of a “soft loan” of $55 million are being worked through.
Sgt, Jim Casson was one of three Waikato police officers who went to Tonga after the riots.
“I was woken about 3 a.m. in November by someone telling me to get up to Whenuapai air base by 8 a.m.,” he said.
“I made it up there and we flew as far as Christchurch but were turned around. Three days later — we flew out and I worked in a community policing role in Tonga for 16 days. Things were pretty calm after the riots.
He added, “The Tongan police have different methods of doing things but are pretty switched on.”