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Tinian DPS, guesthouse, terminal to undergo upgrades
SAN JOSE, Tinian—Tinian’s Department of Public Safety headquarters in San Jose, the guesthouse for medically referred Tinian patients on Saipan, and the island’s airport terminal will soon see some renovations, according to Tinian Mayor Joey Patrick San Nicolas.
San Nicolas said there will be a groundbreaking for the DPS headquarters’ renovation soon. He said a bid had been awarded and funds they will use is the bond interest money from Public Law 17-8.
PL 17-8 helps the Tinian leadership tap into the local license fees collected from pachinko slot machines and poker fees in the second senatorial district (Tinian).
Another renovation in the pipeline is the Tinian guesthouse on Navy Hill on Saipan, which houses medically referred patients from Tinian.
San Nicolas said the Tinian leadership and the island’s municipality is working with the Capital Improvement Projects office to assess the units in Lower Navy Hill and use bond interest money from PL 17-8 to upgrade them.
He said an invitation to bid for the Tinian guesthouse renovation will be out soon.
“This is really needed because when they go there, sometimes they need a place to stay, depending on the type of treatment. It could be overnight or a longer period of time. These are temporary quarters for medically referred patients. The units at the guesthouse are in a state of disrepair and [we’re] working closely with the CIP office and Office of Management Budget’s Vicky Villagomez,” he said.
One other project is the terminal at the Tinian International Airport. In 2014, the CNMI government announced that the Commonwealth Ports Authority would solicit bids for the terminal’s renovation. The scope of work includes improvements to the arrival and departure terminals, including the connecting corridor.
San Nicolas said the Tinian leadership has started a working group composed of stakeholders like Star Marianas Airlines, Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino, as well as potential investors Alter City Group and Mega Stars Overseas Ltd.
“What we’re doing is trying to work with CPA to assist in the movement of the terminal project so that we can have direct flights and in the process we also need to assist CPA as well,” he said.
