The Vaa-o-Fonoti District Council office is the first of its kind as it occupies three previously unused rooms at a school with the rental deal set to benefit the children of the district.

The District Council office was officially opened last Saturday. Unlike any other constituency, Vaa-o-Fonoti opted to establish its' office under the Government's $1 million District Development Project at Taelefaga Primary School within the vicinity of it's constituency. The school will be paid a rental rate of $800 every month and the worn-out school fence will also be repaired.

Member of Parliament for Vaa-o-Fonoti, Mauu Siaosi Puepuemai acknowledged the Government for the initiative which his constituency is already starting to reap benefits from.

"During the construction of this school building, the three rooms were built for a bigger purpose that was yet to come and that purpose was witnessed today (Saturday)," he said.

"While inspecting the whole school the committee noticed that the fence was wearing out hence, in the process of establishing the council office within the school premises, the school fence will be repaired and replaced as part of the office establishment.

"Not only it will boost the security of the office but most importantly that of our children who are educated in this school."

The Taelefaga Primary School caters for children from four villages within Vaa-o-Fonoti, according to Mau'u.

The Minister of Women, Community and Social Development, Leota Laki Lamositele and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Laaulialemalietoa Polataivao Schmidt were part of the opening ceremony.

Mauu explained how their $200,000 was used which was initially distributed from the $1 million grant mainly for the establishment of their council office.

Last year after a search for an appropriate area or land to build their office on, the committee noticed three available rooms at Taelefaga primary school, and decided to approach the school to use the available rooms for the council office.

After receiving approval from the school, part of the agreement was to lease the rooms for $800 a month with $8,000 already expended on monthly rentals. 

The total cost including the renovation of the office, the purchasing of new computers and furniture, polymer tanks for rest rooms, fixing the water supply, paying the salaries for 14 committee members as well as the plumber and other workers totalled $189,426.