A resort operating in the Mamanuca group is being shut down after a winding up petition against the hotel owners was granted by the Master of the High Court in Lautoka yesterday.

Aanuka Island Resort Limited, which was operating as Amanuca Island Resort, was operating a 100 room resort and the order to wind up operations was issued by the Master of the High Court Justice Anare Tuilevuka after it emerged that the hotel owed an estimated $1.5M to various suppliers and contractors.

Justice Tuilevuka also noted in his orders that Amanuca Island Resort owed the Fiji National Provident Fund the sum of $378,316.

Efforts to contact the owners and managers of the island resort proved futile and stakeholders in the tourism industry have told Fijivillage that the resort was operating well but had changed ownership a number of times of the past few years.

It has also been confirmed that the resort had gone into receivership earlier but managed to pay out its debts to remain in operation.

It is believed that around 100 staff are currently employed at the resort.