ASDC board
to set time frame to develop rest of Rainmaker hotel
by Fili Sagapolutele
Samoa News Correspondent
The American
Samoa Development Corporation (ASDC) board is scheduled to meet
this month to discuss, among other things, setting a time frame
on when Niu Technology (NT) is to start developing the rest of
the Rainmaker Hotel, the only ASDC asset.
On his weekend
radio program, Gov. Togiola Tulafono voiced his disappointment
over the lack of development for the rest of the hotel saying
that it has been years since the contract development with a
local firm was signed but he has yet to see any work done.
Togiola said
he has heard there is a long delay for the redevelopment project
but he hopes it will move forward soon. The governor was responding
to a caller, who said the 10th Pacific Arts Festival is set for
the summer but the rest of the Rainmaker Hotel is an eyesore
and something should be done to clean up the property.
The Development
Bank of American Samoa, as a government entity, owns 80% of ASDC
shares. The rest of the shares are owned by minority shareholders,
the governor reminded listeners.
Responding to
Samoa News inquiries, DBAS president Utu Abe Malae said, "We
are disappointed too that Niu Technology is taking so long to
get started."
"We are
happy to hear from interested investors with the financing at
hand to develop this beautiful location in the event NT cannot
make a go of it," he said.
Asked if there
is a deadline or time frame given to NT to develop the central
and harbor wing parts of the hotel, Utu said, "We haven't
set a deadline yet but will do so at the next board meeting this
month. Technically, NT is already in default of the lease agreement."
(NT, owned by
company president Jeffrey Tuiasosopo, entered into a 44-year
sublease agreement with ASDC last year.)
Asked if ASDC
will entertain a new proposal from a company with financing,
Utu said, "Yes, of course we will welcome ideas backed up
by solid financing."
Last month, the
Project Notification and Review System (PNRS) approved a land
use permit for NT. According to the company's permit application,
the proposed land use is for both commercial and cultural uses
that will include hotel facilities and a research center to which
all schools will be given access.
The company plans
to have the hotel facilities surrounded by a cultural center
and hopes to have this completed before the 10th Pacific Arts
Festival, set for July 20-Aug. 2.
Reach the reporter
at fili@samoanews.com.
© Osini Faleatasi Inc. dba Samoa News reserves
all rights.
|