In the final investigation in a three-part series on environmental destruction at Malolo Island, Melanie Reid and Mark Jennings go to Suva seeking answers and end up arrested and then hosted to morning tea by the Prime Minister. WATCH episode three of Melanie Reid's report in the video player above - and watch part one here and part two here.
It started off as an investigation into the environmental damage being caused by a major resort development on Fiji’s Malolo Island. It turned into our arrest and detention at Fiji’s central police station in Suva and ended with justice for the village and leaseholders harmed by a big Chinese developer.
Newsroom had gone to Fiji to see first-hand what was happening with the Chinese-backed company Freesoul Real Estate’s huge development on sensitive land at Malolo Island – the jewel in the Mamanuca chain.
Things did not go smoothly. From the minute we started filming we were harassed, chased and threatened by Freesoul employees. We witnessed one of the leaseholders of land adjoining the development being assaulted by a Chinese worker at the site. Navrin Fox was attacked when he tried to access his own land and show us the environmental damage caused by the development.
Despite four High Court injunctions to halt work at the development site, local villagers told us that Freesoul had continued on and caused significant environmental damage.
Source: Newsroom NZ
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