Junta yet to say how international casino operator will meet 90 per cent local ownership decree

Talk casino's and most people think Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Nevada, Macao and South Africa. They might even call to mind Australia's Crown Plaza, in Sydney, as an eye-catching beacon of money. That's because most reputable casinos are glittering testaments to tourist dollars.

But is that the sort of casino the illegal regime can lure to Fiji's shores? Or are we in for the modest, and dare to say it, tacky neighbourhood casinos that have popped up in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. The ones that have ended up being patronised by locals instead of tourists as originally planned?


Remember, the illegal Minister for Industry and Trade and attorney general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, has said the regime is looking for expressions of interest from "internationally successful casino developers and operators that are reputable and who  would enhance Fiji’s brand".
Take a look at the scale of difference:

  
Right: Macao's Gold Coast (top), Caesars in Atlantic City (below), Australia's Crown Plaza followed by Port Vila (left) and Honiara (bottom right).

We also want to know what the junta intends to do about its decree that businesses be 90 per cent owned by locals. How can the world's top operators qualify to run a casino in Suva, unless they're exempt from the decree or some other wily deal is concocted. All eyes need to be on the deal and the fine print.

FijiLive has today reported the successful tender will be entitled to a number of tax breaks.

It says casino operators will be given exclusive incentives and that under the terms listed under the expressions of interests (EOI) they will be:

a) given tax incentives involving tax-free imports of building and construction materials and equipment, in accordance with Fiji’s tax laws

b) and be allowed to transfer profits out of the country in accordance with the Reserve Bank of Fiji’s guidelines and laws. 

No doubt, there's more to emerge about the latest efforts by the illegal regime to refill the coffers and present a consolidated front.