Transcript
The Chinese developer, Freesoul Real Estate, is building a resort of about 370 bures on Malolo, which is off Fiji's main island Viti Levu.
Some of the bungalows are to be built over the water and others amid protected mangroves.
But locals are outraged at what they say is roughshod construction and poor environmental management that's killed fish, destroyed mangroves and reefs, and seen exotic trees felled.
The headman of nearby Solevu Village, Orisi Vuninavanua, says Freesoul must be stopped from further damaging the beaches, mangroves and reefs.
"They started digging that so it's spoiled the whole environment. This is the place where the crabs and the fish who rely on the mangrove swamp. When they dig out those channel to the beach, most of the fishes and all those marine life over there - it was being spoiled.
"So we are not happy about what has happened."
Mr Vuninavanua says the site's ownership is disputed and the villagers also want that matter resolved.
But Bradley Robinson, who is the chief executive of Fiji Gateway, which operates another resort on Malolo, says public meetings as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process were held at the village.
He says the locals, EIA officials and other resort owners, like him, attended these meetings to hear the developer's proposals.
"What we need to understand is the landowners themselves granted the lease and granted consent for that development to happen on that site. Not that the landowners can give a developer a building approval, but the landowners themselves granted the lease.
"If the villagers were to ask us for some support, we would certainly consider that and see if we could assist them in anyway."
Mr Robinson says he welcomes any development in the tourism sector.
But he is worried about the environmental impacts of the latest development.
"Myself and the other resort owners, that I speak to around the area, are very supportive of development in general.
"Our concerns have only been about ensuring that the development is done in an environmentally-sensible way.
"And that all the correct protocols and approvals - protocols are followed and approvals are obtained."
Mr Robinson says tourism operators on the island are following the government's regulations and the same should apply to the new developers.
The New Zealand website, Newsroom, last week reported that the developers ignored two court orders and are running roughshod over Fijian environmental law, permits, the environment and the locals.
That report forced the government to disclose that it had filed for prosecution in September.
And on Friday, the director of public prosecutions, Christopher Pryde, announced that it's likely Freesoul will face criminal charges.
An opposition MP Lenora Qereqeretabua has called for an independent inquiry into what's happening on Malolo.
"If this company has gotten away. How come so many Chinese companies are being allowed to get away with flouting our laws?
"We've got good laws. We just don't police them. And I don't think the punishment that is being given out is severe enough to discourage this kind of behaviour from - in particular - Chinese companies."
Ms Qereqeretabua says landowners must wake up to what's happening on their lands.
"This is a warning to landowners. To be very aware. To be informed from before day one about everything.
"They need to be asking questions. They need to be involved in every aspect of the development.
"And I am shocked that this has happened in an area where a lot of tourism development has already happened."
Environment Minister Mahendra Reddy says his ministry is working to ensure Freesoul is prosecuted for the environmental damage it has committed on the island.
