The leader of French Polynesia's opposition Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party says if elected to office, his government will make the construction of the $US3 billion Mahana Beach project its overarching priority.
A picture shows the planned construction site of a tourism complex named "Mahana Beach", with the derelict Sofitel Hotel in the background, on the littoral of Punaauia, 15 km south of Papeete, in French Polynesia, on July 19, 2014. Tahiti intends to invest 2,1 billion euros to develop a gigantic tourism complex comprising hotels, casinos, aquatic parcs, cinemas and luxury shops, according to the Senator-President of French Polynesia Gaston Flosse. AFP PHOTO / GREGORY BOISSY / AFP PHOTO / GREGORY BOISSY Photo: AFP
Gaston Flosse, who is barred from standing because of his corruption convictions, told Tahiti-infos that this doesn't mean that he will cancel the Tahitian Village project.
Last week, the government chose a New Zealand-Samoan consortium to build $US700 million worth of hotels and accommodation as part of the Tahitian Village project although the contracts are yet to be signed.
Flosse said those investors could join the Mahana Beach project which he says will employ 10,000 people during the construction phase and create 14,000 permanent jobs.
In January, Flosse said the government should drop the Tahitian Village project.
Being barred from office, Flosse said he would oversee matters as a special advisor of the proposed Tahoeraa president Geffry Salmon.
In 1997, Gaston Flosse was a political heavyweight in French Polynesia. He had a spy agency run from his office to monitor opponents and mistresses, while the Chriac government in Paris turned a blind eye - Mr Flosse supported nuclear tests in 1995. Photo: AFP or licensors
