Minister for Finance Esrom Immanuel confirms that contractual matters and a disagreement between the Fiji National Provident Fund and Fletcher Construction has halted the Westin redevelopment project in Denarau but it is expected to be fully resolved by this week, after which normal construction activities will resume.
While responding to a question in Parliament by Opposition MP Faiyaz Koya on the reason for the halt, Immanuel says Westin is fully owned by FNPF through its subsidiary, Turbo PTE Limited, and is being reconstructed and renovated by Fletcher Construction.
He says Fletcher Construction Fiji is a joint venture owned 50 percent by Fletcher Construction New Zealand, 25 percent by the FNPF and 25 percent by the Fijian Holdings Limited.
The Minister says contractual matters and a disagreement between the parties resulted in differing views and delays in the fulfilment of certain project obligations.
Immanuel stresses that FNPF, through Turbo, continues to operate in accordance with proper governance processes and is acting at all times in the best interest of the Fund and its members.
He says construction progress across the guest room blocks has advanced to the final stages, with practical completion now targeted for March 2026.
The Minister confirms a staged opening strategy has been proposed to the operator which will allow selected hotel areas to become operational ahead of full project completion, enabling early revenue generation while works continue in non-critical zones.
Meanwhile, Koya had questioned the ethical conflict of FNPF potentially suing its own company, which Immanuel dismissed as a new question and described the dispute as a family matter being resolved internally.
Koya also asked the Minister how FNPF members would be compensated for delays but Immanuel again dismissed it, saying it was a new question.
