27 May 2005

Shareholder in Cooks hotel voices doubt about project

9:12 am on 27 May 2005

A shareholder in the Aquarius Hotel project in the Cook Islands says he has doubts as to whether the project will go ahead.

Rei Jack, who's also a landowner, says the hotel may not be developed owing to so much opposition to the project, despite the Development Investment board having approved the joint venture last year.

The Cook Islands Budget Accommodation Council opposed the project because it involves foreign investors from a Fijian company called Aquarius Pacific Hotels Ltd.

Local hotel operators opposed the Aquarius project because it will impact on business for smaller operators, while there are also concerns about safety because the proposed site for the hotel is near two fuel storage tanks.

A petition has been given to the DIB's Sir Geoffrey Henry in an attempt to get the government to reconsider the hotel project.