Group seeks to stop Best Sunshine hotel project

A civic group is planning to stop the construction of a hotel casino at a site in Garapan that has been determined to be an ancient burial ground for Chamorros.

This despite Best Sunshine International, Ltd. already being granted a lease and the necessary permits from the Department of Public Lands and the Commonwealth Zoning Board, respectively.

Liana M.S. Hofschneider, founder of the Council of Chamorro Advancement, has submitted a letter of opposition to Public Lands last April 28. The letter indicated that the leased area “hosts significant cultural and historical past” and a site of an ancient Chamorro village. The letter asks DPL to rescind the lease deal, and accept the suggestion of her group to convert the area into a Memorial Walking Park.

Hofschneider said the remains of ancient Chamorros are scattered in the area, indicating that it is an ancient burial ground, which is estimated to be more 1,000 years old.

Aside from the letter of opposition, Hofschneider said her group is also looking for “other ways” to prevent the construction of the casino resort.

She lamented that there seems to be no concrete plans on what Best Sunshine plans to do with the ancient remains, which under CNMI laws should be preserved.

Hofschneider said under CNMI laws, there are protocols for natural history and places of historical significance that should be followed.

Hofschneider earlier said she is not against Best Sunshine per se but is against the “desecration” of historical places, particularly where the Best Sunshine hotel and casino is expected to rise.

She has also asked that Best Sunshine find an alternative location so that the area can be transformed into a walking park.

“We are for responsible development,” Hofschneider, adding that there was no consultation with Best Sunshine on the historical sites.

She also lambasted agencies such as the Historic Preservation Office and DPL for allowing the company to build on the site without “proper consultations.”

Hofschneider said, “It does not mean that if something is approved,” it is “within the law.” She added that her group is gathering data and evidence to prove that the area should not be used for the casino.

Permits

The Zoning Board, after a public hearing, voted unanimously to grant the zoning permit to Best Sunshine to build its first hotel casino on the CNMI, to be located on Garapan.

Mark Brown, CEO of Best Sunshine, presented a computer-generated model of the hotel that he said will be called the “Grand Mariana.”

Grand Mariana will be 14 storeys high and will have 254 rooms and six villas. The parking lot will have more than 200 parking slots, accessible via a 30-foot side street.

Brown said it will have a casino, restaurants facing the beach, shopping stalls, and others.

The hotel is expected to rise in a more than 19,000-square-meter public land that has been leased to Best Sunshine for 40 years.

Brown also promised that all the questions of preserving the local culture will be considered, not just in the design of the hotel building but also on how to address the concern on the issue of the burial grounds.

The area in question is currently surrounded by a corrugated roof fence and several heavy machinery can be seen inside the premises.