Casino plans on Peleliu Island???

[pakman]

from CDNN... good grief... hope this gets shot down...


Developer announces plan to build casino gambling resort in Palau

Powered by CDNN - CYBER DIVER News Network
by LAMAR BENNINGTON - CDNN Industry News Editor

KOROR, Palau (2 Jan 2007) -- If a Korean developer can cover all of the required bribes to Palau's corrupt politicians and greedy local chiefs, the pristine island of Peleliu will soon take its place as yet another ugly and overdeveloped Caribbean-style tourist trap littered with the flotsam of modern tourism including a huge casino, golf courses and high-rise hotels.
Interpacific Connection Inc. announced it will seek approval from Palau's Foreign Investment Board (FIB) for the project. With approval from the FIB, foreign developers are entitled to 100 percent ownership of hotels and golf courses.
Interpacific Connection Inc. is owned by Jae-Kook Chang, a Korean business tycoon who also owns Newsis News Agency and an 18-hole golf course in South Korea.
After visiting Peleliu in August 2006, Chang concluded the pristine, undeveloped island could become a popular direct-flight holiday destination, especially for high-end Korean, Chinese and Japanese tourists.
Chang's US$150 million development scheme would include an international airport, casino, two 18-hole golf courses and hotel facilities totaling 300 rooms.
Attorneys representing Chang have written letters to Palau President Tommy Remengesau, Senate President Johnny Reklai, House Speaker Augustine Mesebeluu and other politicians to solicit support for the project.
According to unconfirmed reports, Chang's attorneys have floated a proposal involving "financial incentives" for politicians willing to support legislation to legalize gambling in Palau.
To date, attempts to push through a casino bill that would establish a gaming industry in Palau have failed.
Opponents of the bill cite concerns about Asian organized crime syndicates that are heavily involved in casinos as well as tourism developments and golf courses.
In August 2006 after a US$1 million bribes scandal involving ousted Peleliu State Governor Jackson Ngiraingas, UK Investments Holdings of Malaysia shelved its Nautilus City Project, which aims to develop Peleliu into an international casino gambling and resort destination.

​

Three months later in November 2006, the same Malaysian company attempted to bribe Palau President Remengesau offering US$20 million to rescue Pacific Savings Bank on the condition that the president give his approval for the Nautilus City Project.
Reefs surrounding Peleliu are renowned among scuba divers as some of the world's best drift diving sites.
© CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK

 

[Mike Veitch]

i can't believe you read CDNN... its trash.

If they build a casino where would they grow pot?!?

 

[pakman]

So that's where you've been growing your secret stash...

 

[almitywife]

there may be some basic truth to the story but dont take what CDNN does as reporting or newsworthy

if it was printed matter, the only place for it would be in my compost bin

 

[World Wide Diver]

Palauans have a history of selling out to cash investors from wherever they can get money, so don't be surprised if Pelileu is a target for Korean investors.

Most dive tourists come from the States, so the Koreans will be hoping that US tourists feature as a big part in their plans (Koreans generally don't give a damn about protecting reefs as can be witnessed by their general poor standard of diving - especially diving around corals).

I am sure that should Pelileu become a casino resort that many US citizens will soon forget the bloody battles of the second World War and the brave, selfless US marines that lost their lives there on Orange Beach to spend their dollars in the cheap casinos that will be built. Shame on you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It just highlights the total loss of respect that the rest of the World has for the Americans that such a plan could be considered in the first place.

What do you think this says of the way of the World and how America is viewed abroad? For example, if such plans were going to infringe on the United Kingdom, then there would be an uproar here!

Please act soon and lobby your Congress to stop this outrage.

Yours

World Wide Diver

 

[Cacia]

yea, that is distasteful.

Smells true though.

Most Americans don't care enough, so don't be surprised if other countries don't. Thanks for posting this.

 

[Travelnsj]

If they build a casino where would they grow pot?!?

I heard about that 3 trips ago...LOL....what will they do???....LOL

 

[drbill]

So what's the big deal? Our dive park is located on the property where our world famous Casino rests. In the summer the building shades us from the sun, in the winter it protects us from the wind.

Oh, I forgot... there's no gambling in OUR Casino. Just an 1184-seat movie theater, ballroom, Museum and art gallery. It comes from the original meaning of the word... a place of entertainment or gathering.

Sounds like a plan... NOT!

 

[Kevrumbo]

Well, even though it's the Republic of Palau's Territory, Peleliu for the US Marines is still considered Hallowed Ground: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Peleliu
http://home.sprynet.com/~kier/peleliu.htm

 

[Leroy Barclay]

I can't believe you read Cyber-Diver News Network either!!!
CDNN is trash, read http://www.divepoll.com/manthiri.html

Cheers,
Leroy