Every morning, Tongan mothers brace themselves. Not just for another day of work, but for the gauntlet of craters, dust, and flood-washed rubble that passes for roads on Tongatapu. Last week, my neighbour’s truck axle snapped in a pothole disguised as a puddle. His children missed school for days while he scavenged for parts. This isn’t just inconvenience—it’s a national emergency. As elections loom, Tonga faces a stark choice: Will we keep patching our roads with coral dust, like fools building on sand? Or will we finally invest in resilience, laying foundations as solid as rock?

The Folly of Coral Dust: A Death Trap for Vehicles and Economies

Let’s talk numbers. The World Bank warns that poor roads slash vehicle lifespans by 40–50% in developing nations. In Tonga, where most families rely on aging imported cars, this is catastrophic. A Toyota Hilux built to last 15 years crumples in 7. Why?

• Potholes are suspension killers: Each jolt strains shocks, axles, and engines. Mechanics in Nukuʻalofa whisper that 60% of their work stems from road damage.
• Floods breed rust: Saltwater pools in craters, eating through undercarriages. A 2022 study found Tonga’s coastal vehicles rust 3x faster than global averages.
• Dust chokes engines: Coral particles infiltrate air filters, grinding down pistons.

This isn’t just about cars—it’s a stealth tax on every Tongan. Vehicle repairs drain household budgets. Farmers pay more to transport taro. Tourism operators fear cracked rental car windshields will scare off visitors. We’re losing money, one pothole at a time.

But the economic toll runs deeper. The World Bank estimates that poor roads inflate transport costs by 25–40% for Pacific Island businesses. For Tonga’s fishing industry—a lifeline for outer islands—delays caused by road damage mean spoiled catches and lost income. A single stalled truck on the road to Queen Sālote Wharf can disrupt exports for days, shrinking profits in a sector that contributes 10% of Tonga’s GDP.

Dust, Lungs, and Market Stalls: The Silent Health Crisis

Close your eyes. Imagine biting into a mango at Talamahu Market, only to taste grit. That’s coral dust—fine as powder, toxic as poison.

• Respiratory carnage: PM2.5 particles from roads inflame lungs, worsening Tonga’s noncommunicable disease crisis. A 2023 Ministry of Health report linked 30% of childhood asthma cases to road dust. In villages like Kolovai, clinics report spikes in bronchitis during dry seasons. “We’re treating toddlers with inhalers,” says nurse ‘Ana Moala. “It’s not normal.”
• Food contamination: Dust coats produce with silica and bacteria. Vendors wipe fruit endlessly, but tourists still joke about “Tongan seasoning.” A 2021 FAO study found that roadside crops in Tongatapu had 12% lower nutritional value due to particulate contamination.
• Economic erosion: Dust repels customers. “Sales drop 20% in dry season,” laments a bakery owner near Kolomotu’a.

We’re literally breathing our infrastructure failure.

The Wise Man’s Road: Lessons from Japan – and Jesus

Remember the Sunday School hymn? “The wise man built his house upon the rock… and the rains came down, but the house stood firm.” Japan’s airport highway proves this isn’t just theology—it’s engineering. Built on stable bases with proper drainage and asphalt, it’s survived cyclones and floods.

But why haven’t we replicated this?
For decades, Tonga’s road policy has prioritized cheapness over longevity. Coral rock—easy to mine and politically expedient—is shovelled into potholes as a quick fix. But like the hymn’s “foolish man,” we ignore the foundation. Coral dissolves under rain, lacks load-bearing strength, and erodes into toxic dust.