A major shopping plaza is being planned for Flagstaff, Suva, on one of rugby grounds in the front of Marist Brothers High School.

The plaza would stretch along the Bau Street frontage of the school from the Flagstaff Police Post to the Carew Street corner.

It is understood that the Marist Brothers, the owners of the Catholic Church school, are adamant that the project will go ahead despite concerns being raised by some former students.

The money raised through leasing the property will be used to fund development and operations at the five educational institutions the Marist Brothers run in Suva.

It follows similar policies overseas. There church schools are selling land and then putting the money raised back into development.

An example is Wellington, where the Marist Fathers sold their heritage St Patrick’s College property wanted for development in Wellington city. The money from this was used to build a bigger state-of-the-art new college in suburban Kilbirnie..

In Fiji, some Marist Brothers High School former students are raising concerns about the iconic view that will be lost. The school would not be visible from Bau Street.

But sources say the performance and maintenance of the school will remain priority of the Marist Brothers over the “iconic view”.

A local architectural firm is currently working on the project. No official comments have been possible. But it is understood the development is being led by a group which have already been involved in retail and office development in Suva.

It is understood that the land area to be taken up for the project will take up approximately 30 metres of the Marist grounds from the footpath. It would still leave Marist Brothers with one rugby ground in front of the school.

The first Marist Brothers, who specialise in teaching, came to Fiji in 1888. The brothers later pioneered multiracial education for boys in the capital.

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