This Village

is a winner

FRED Zeder’s OPIC has made its first Ecotourism Award to the Village, an enviromental-friendly hotel on Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesian. The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) is a part of the US Government. It is headed by Ambassador Zeder. The award is part of OPIC’s efforts to encourage US investment overseas in ecologically sound enterprises.

The Village, owned by Robert and Patricia Arthur, is a 20-year-old, 20-unit hotel perched on the lip of a long quiescent volcano on the far north-east corner of Pohnpei, overlooking the North Lagoon and Sokehs Rock, a sailor’s landmark. From the start the Arthurs sought to make the most of the surround ings, rather than try to change them.

“We made very little use of bull dozers,” Patricia Arthur explained.“ When Bob encounters a tree, he builds a wall around it rather than cutting it down.”

The Arthurs practise what they preach. There is no air-conditioning, no swimming pool, and no golf course at their resort, screens and landscaping, rather than walls, provide privacy, and the whole place is oriented toward the setting of palm trees beech, reefs and the maritime vista.

The Village is owned by a public corporation, with some 250 shareholders, including, in addition to the Arthurs, Micronesians from the neighbourhood and former visitors to the hotel. The land is leased from five Micronesian families, on what Bob Arthur says is a model cited for other, similar arrangement.

The first 20-year lease is now expiring, and will be followed by two 10-year, follow-on leases. The landowners share in the profits of the place. If bearing fruit trees have to be cut for hotel purposes, the landowner is compensated. □