Water Park: Pro poor, rural development.

From a reader:

"Regarding the water park mentioned in the Sutera video (which I can't download or watch, given abysmal Timor Telecom internet speeds), you might be interested that it will be built with $7 million of Timor-Leste's money. The MTCI capital budget for 2010 has $4m for this project, with more to come.

Given the rate at which sewage and waste is being dumped into the sea near Tasi-Tolu, which will get worse once Sutera starts building, perhaps the water park will be only place safe to swim!"

This above quote is from pg 247 of Book of the Proposed National Budget for the MTCI (Ministry of Tourism Commerce and Industry) for 2010.

Full pages 246 and 247 as below.

 

 This is an interesting use of funds seeing as the total personal income tax revenue projection for the entire country in 2010 is $500,000 less than this allotment for a water park for rich people in Dili to play in.  

 Pro poor, rural development, indeed.

COO Sutera Talks of Development after a Civil War.

The Chief Operating Officer for Sutera Harbour talks about the Tasi Tolu Development.  350-1000 room hotel wil a gold course, hillside villas and other sundry luxury facilities.

Also mention of a Water Park - in one of the driest parts of the city.   The part of the video which relates to Timor starts at 4 min 40 secs. Interestingly he describes the occupation as a "civil war".

SHR Interview from Tourism-Insider on Vimeo.

Environmentally Unsound: Brought to You By Evangelicals

A present from Kota Kinablu

Contract Signed?

PARLIAMENTARY COMPLEX - OCT 2008 PRESENTATION

Sent in by a reader.

Well, is it a hotel, casino, parliament, or major white elephant boondoggle joke?

$250 million and Datuk Edward Ong

So we keep reading about this new hotel, casino cum Parliament that is supposed to float in an environmentally friendly way atop the Tasi Tolu lakes...

As reported by Kyodo "Edward Ong, told Kyodo News that he will invest about US$250 million to build the resort on a sprawling site in Dili. A basic agreement for the project was signed between Ong and East Timorese government officials recently. The resort, expected to be completed by 2012, will boast a five-star hotel with about 350 rooms, a 27-hole golf course set amid lakes, and a business park."

Where is the above mentioned agreement? What happens to the thousands of people who live in Tasi Tolu - land appropriation? Hotel/Casino and a new Parliament? How strange.

Another account confirms it will have 350 rooms. Want to find out the truth just call the man who is claiming he is going to invest the $250 million. Below is his calling card, obtained in Dili.

But what about the Casinos? Tasi Tolu Redux

As discussed in the Insider in December 2008 the Tasi Tolu moonbase looks like its moving forward. New Parliament, Hotel/Golf Course, Moonbase, its all the same.

Whose land is it?

I wonder if they have discussed the matter with the endemic species bird that can be found in savanna habitat (such as around Tasi-tolu) .......near Dili (Díli)) including the Yellow-eared Honeyeater Lichmera flavicans, the brilliant Flame-breasted Sunbird Nectarinia solaris, and Streaky-breasted Honeyeater Meliphaga reticulata.

East Timor: Singapore group to build tourist resort with golf course in Dili [ 2009-03-30 ]

Dili, East Timor, 30 March – Singapore's Ock Group plans to build a luxury tourist resort in a coastal area on the outskirts of the East Timor capital of Dili, Asian Gold Business reported citing the company’s chairman, Edward Ong.

The resort will have a hotel with 350 rooms and will be the first five-star accommodation in the country, with a business centre and a 27-hole golf complex.

The resort will be based on the model of the Sutera Harbour resort in Malaysia, which was opened by the Ock Group in 2000. The resort has two hotels with a total of 956 rooms, a marina and a 27-hole golf complex.

The resort will initially focus on attracting businesspeople and Ong expects that East Timor will attract enough tourists to build more rooms and other attractions. (macauhub)

Parlemento nia futuru tasitolu - husi Sutera

So the New Club Med in Tasi Tolu is to double as a New Parliament as well. Something of science fiction in this.

Sutera Harbour Resort, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

A vision of Tasi Tolu 2020?