8 Jun 2012

Tahiti opposition doubts Hao aquaculture deal with China

1:36 pm on 8 June 2012

French Polynesia's opposition Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party has questioned President Oscar Temaru's announcement of a huge joint venture aquaculture deal with a Chinese company on Hao atoll.

The Tahoeraa says it wants to be given details of the arrangement as there is no record in the official journal stating that he is entitled to sign such an accord without the consent of Paris.

Mr Temaru told a local newspaper last week that under the deal, Taijin Jasmin Fund Management Corporation is prepared to invest 100 million US dollars a year over 15 years to expand the fishing potential around Hao atoll.

In a statement, the party says it doubts the accord exists and questions the unbelievable figures which it says may have been given to shine in the current election campaign.

It says this also contrasts with the anti-Chinese rhetoric of the electoral campaign in 2008 when the Tahoeraa leader was accused of selling out the land to the Chinese.