Had Mr Roopun spoken to any promoter of an Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS) project (see La surchauffe des Terres in l?express dated August 17), as any professional journalist should have done, he would have appreciated the benefits of such a scheme to the economy, and he may have thought twice before writing his ill-researched ?opinion?.

The Médine Sugar Estates IRS (Tamarina) consists of the conversion of an old hunting ground into a resort comprising 119 luxury villas, an 18-hole championship golf course and beach club, all on private land. No state land, no road deviations and no hand-outs are involved. When the foreign owners of these villas are absent, their properties will be placed in a hotel pool, to be marketed as a golfing resort, unique in Mauritius.

At a time when finances worldwide for hotel construction are scarce and competition between countries is rife, Tamarina is equivalent to a 400 room luxury hotel which will create 1,000 direct and indirect jobs as the building of a sugar mill once did-in yesterday?s economy. Mr Roopun?s criticism of the types of jobs being created is harsh on the families who will benefit and is totally out of place.

Tamarina is promoted by Médine at tremendous financial risk and for relatively little reward. The land could have been sold indeveloped as a hunting ground (for the pleasure of a few privileged people) for not much less than the ?profit? the company hopes to make from the IRS. But the economic benefits to the country, apart from job creation are enomous.

Rs 2.8 billion of FDI over a two year period, at a time when the country will face acute foreign currency shortages because of the reduction of the price of sugar;

? less than 100 arpents of unproductive land sold to foreigners.

? Rs 2.3 billion of construction contracts (including professional fees) awarded;

? over Rs 500 million of duties and taxes for the state?s coffers initially, with more to come on each subsequent sale.

? A championship golf course which will attract up-market clients to region?s hotels (knowing that invesment in golf courses is notoriously risky);

? spin-offs from foreigners who will bring capital, ideas and entrepreneurship to the island.

? Spin-offs for the multitude of small businesses which will spring up in the region of the resort.

In fact one would need to look very hard as Mr Roopun obviously did, to find fault in such a scheme.

<B>René LECLEZIO

Director, Médine Sugar Estate</B>