PNG owners ‘not selling’ Fiji resort

By HELEN TARAWA
THE Papua New Guinea shareholders of the Pearl Pacific Resort in Fiji have decided not to sell it, says Mineral Resources Development Company general manager Augustine Mano.
He denied claims that the resort – located on the Queens Highway at Pacific Harbour near Suva – was being sold.
He the the MRDC shareholders had decided not to sell.
“There will be no sale until further notice,” Mano said.
On claims that the resort, located on the southern coast of the main island Viti Levu, was not making money, he said they were “looking at all the options”.
“That’s something that we are looking at. We are looking at all the options,” Mano said.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill had said the value of the resort was K219 million ($F140mil). He had also told Parliament earlier that there were no plans to sell it.
An interest was expressed by the Global Hotel and Resort chain to buy the resort but Mano said the shareholders had decided not to sell it.
The MRDC, Petroleum Resources Kutubu and Mineral Resources Ok Tedi had in 2012 invested around
K50 million ($F32mil) into the resort. They have since invested another K94 million ($F60mil).
The resort has a marina popular for annual game fishing competitions, 212 first-class rooms, an 18-hole golf course and 224 acres of freehold land.
Promotional materials describe the resort as “swanky”, “sleek” and “high-end”. It overlooks the ocean.
Amenities include six restaurants and bars, an 18-hole golf course, and a pool with a swim-up bar.
There’s a spa, a gym and an on-site dive company. Other activities include river kayaking, beach games, bike rentals, snorkeling and fishing.