development scheme

Canadians in Fiji development scheme

News leaked out in April of a massive land development scheme which three Canadian businessmen are planning for Fiji’s Deuba coastline.

Despite efforts to keep the scheme under wraps —a spokesman verified that reports were true, but added that a “few things still had to be juggled about” —it became pretty clear that the plans are giant-sized.

They involve converting thousands of acres of Deuba bushland, sur rounding the now-demolished Beach comber Hotel, into a holiday resort residential complex. It would include international - standard golf links, tennis courts, a marine complex and a hotel. The first stage—to cost S 5 million and upwards—provides for the area around the old Beachcomber to be transformed into an island by surrounding it with a canal, criss crossed with smaller waterways.

The company concerned is Pacific Hotels Ltd., which was registered in Fiji by Canadians Peter Munk, David Gilmour and Pat Samuel. It owns the Beachcomber site and is reported to have taken an option on 10 square miles of nearby land owned by Deuba businessman, Mr. B. D. Lakshman.

It is also believed to have an option on about 1,000 acres owned by re tired cattle rancher, Mr. W. J. Erich.

Early in April, there was still no official world of the government’s approval of the scheme. But in his first address to the Legislative Council, the Governor, Sir Robert Foster, did make reference to “two plans for the development of major resort areas”. These, he said, were shortly to be considered.