Pacific

French Polynesia opposition lays complaint over controversial resort

19:32 pm on 26 September 2014

French Polynesia's opposition says it has lodged a complaint with the public prosecutor over the use of public funds to get tenders for the Mahana Beach Resort on Tahiti.

The announcement was made by Richard Tuheiava, who says the complaint was signed by eleven pro-independence assembly members.

The project has been pushed as a means to create jobs and attract tourists, at an estimated US$2.7bn cost Photo: Presidence Polynesie francaise

Mr Tuheiava says the complaint is not directed against a specific person, but is aimed at getting an investigation of a dubious process in dealing with the three bidders for the project.

He has said so far 21 million US dollars of public funds has been spent on the hotel, casino and shopping complex on Tahiti, which is estimated to cost 2.7 billion US dollars to complete.

The project has been pushed as a means to create jobs and attract tourists by Gaston Flosse, who lost office this month because of a corruption conviction that also entailed a suspended jail sentence and a 170,000 US dollar fine.