Vava'u tourism operators lawsuit further adjourned [1]
Thursday, May 10, 2018 - 17:55
Two tourism operators in Vava'u, who are embroiled in a bitter lawsuit had their civil cases adjourned again to May 16, at the Magistrate’s Court in Neiafu.
The lower court said today the case, which was set for May 9, was further adjourned to allow a counsel for one of the parties to travel to the outer island for the hearing.
The lawsuit is between Ian Jones of Vava’u Villa and Nesha Rosic of Mala Island who have filed actions against each other, related to an ongoing dispute over the settlement of bills incurred by a whale watching tour group to Mala Island.
The dispute arose after a 37-year-old woman from New Zealand, residing in Neiafu, was alleged to have obtained $9,720 from nine tourists as payment for services which were not booked when they arrived in September.
It was alleged that the woman had since paid back the money back to the tourists and avoided being charged.
Police said a 65-year-old man from the United States residing on Mala Island filed his complaint with them, saying that he and eight others gave this woman the money in New Zealand before coming to visit Vava'u. The money was for their accommodation, meals, transportation and a whale-watching fee.
However, on arrival in Neiafu, the woman had only organized and paid for their accommodation without meals, transportation or the whale-watching fee.