The Fiji Council of Churches is concerned about the social ills a $2 billion casino complex would bring to Fiji.
During consultations with Chinese developers David Group in Suva this week, the majority of the members expressed their concerns over the social and economic impact such a development would have on Fijians.
Council president and head of the Catholic Church Archbishop Peter Loy Chong said there was a need for more research and consultations on the proposed project.
“We have to really analyse the project,” Archbishop Chong said.
“There are three questions we should ask: What does it do to people? What does it do for people? And then how people participate in the decision-making of the project.
“If you ask those questions well, you will ensure that the project really serves the people.
“Participation is very important.” The archbishop said there were projects in Fiji that lacked the participation of relevant stakeholders.
“Participation has been missing from the decision-making process.
“Yes, we support economic development, but we have to scrutinise the development.
“That it focuses on people and people participate in it but the trend in Fiji is we see a lack of that.”
Council members who shared their views during the discussions said the proposed development could be a catalyst for poverty, broken families, and addiction to gambling.
