Dolphin Island at Solomon Islands to be sold

Solomon Star 28 Apr 09;

DEAR EDITOR – Your paper revealed the plannedsale of the controversial Dolphin island by $50 million.

One can envisage the reasons for its sale, let alone the owner.

However, my assumptions are:
1. The owner had made enough money out of it;
2. The increase pressure regarding the issue of exporting dolphins;
3. Selling the property for that huge sum is more than enough.

From the report, one can tell that the island was purposely established to export dolphin, not to attract tourists to the island and Solomon Islands, for that matter.

Tourism was not the intention, this was evident in the following statements that he intends to move to other tourism related operations and that dolphin export cost $2 million overseas.

As I said these are my personal observations.

S. Jone
Honiara

Dolphin island up for sale
Solomon Star 23 Apr 009;

THE controversial dolphin island of Gavutu in the Central Islands Province will be on sale as of next week for $50 million.

Director of Solomon Islands Mammal Marine Entertainment Centre (SIMMEC) and Marine Export Limited (MEL) Christopher Porter told the Solomon Star yesterday tenders will be out soon.

“There is still no potential buyer but once formalities are being made the tender will be issued,” he said.

Mr Porter said the sale will be done in consultation with all stakeholders and in a transparent manner.

He said the value of the property is reasonable considering the cost of a dolphin.

In the past it costs $150 per dolphin but now it costs $2 million for a dolphin overseas and its a lucrative business, the Canadian said.

Mr Porter said he’s selling the business into to move into other tourism related undertakings.
He said the price include all facilities, buildings and dolphins on the island.

Mr Porter said proceeds from the sale will benefit the employees and his local partners and will allow him venture into tnew business.

Mr Porter said the buyer may buy the operations based on certain conditions in which the new owner must maintain the current business and work with the local communities in community projects.

Plans for Tulagi ferry in Solomons take shape
Radio New Zealand 27 Apr 09;

A new tourism-related business that focuses on transportation is expected to open soon at Tulagi in Solomon Islands’ Central Province.

The Solomon Star reports the ferry business will operate between Tulagi and Honiara to cater for both locals and visitors.

The Director of Solomon Islands Mammal Marine Entertainment Centre and Marine Export Limited, Christopher Porter, has told the Solomon Star he plans to venture into the ferry business as soon as his dolphin business is sold.

The controversial Dolphin Island of Gavutu is up for sale at a 20-million US dollar price tag.

The package includes the island and its facilities and dolphins.

Part of the money will go towards the new business.

Mr Porter says Tulagi lacks basic infrastructures to support tourism industry and he hopes to invest in infrastructures and the new ferry business.