Hotel promises a new start

Kiunga was a scene of festivities yesterday as the people of the Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA) welcomed the hand-over take-over ceremony of the iconic Cassowary Hotel.

The hotel is the eighth and final major CMCA Trust investment project to be delivered by the Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) under the current CMCA Trust investment processes.

The K35 million investment completes a real estate, aviation and shipping portfolio worth in excess of K110 million for the eight CMCA Trusts of Nupmo, Tutuwe, Wai Tri, Middle Fly, Suki Fly Gogo, Manawete, Kiwaba and Dudi.

OTDF CEO, Ian Middleton, spoke passionately about the hotel, adding that the investment was to benefit all and hoped that the spin-off effect would see a rise in businesses and tourism.

Meantime, the Western Province Governor, Tabo Yoto, says this hotel is a good opportunity not just for Kiunga but to create revenue for the province in terms of tax as well as market opportunities for local farmers to sell produce.

With the hotel aiming to be staffed at 90 percent locally, the Governor says the community will stand to benefit in terms of employment opportunities as well.

The hotel will be managed by Coral Sea Hotels with its substantive internal works completed by the end of 2017 by Pacific Palms Properties (PPP).

Both Pacific Palms Properties and Coral Sea Hotels are owned by the Steamships Trading Company (STC).

Present yesterday at the ceremony were representatives from OTDF, OTML, CMCA and the provincial government and administration.

(Western Province Governor, Tabo Yoto, left, with Ok Tedi Mining Limited Board Chairman, Sir Moi Avei)

Author: 
Julianna Waeda