BSI: More casino applicants wanted

Local residents applying for jobs with Best Sunshine International, Ltd. prefer to land hotel jobs instead of casino-related positions.

Best Sunshine, which holds an exclusive casino license on Saipan, has been on a recruitment drive for its “live training” facility at the T Galleria in Garapan.

The company is eyeing to hire 500 personnel and will prioritize local hires.

The potential trainees will undergo training at an adjacent “training school” at the Bank of Guam before being deployed at the temporary casino in T Galleria.

“We are not having any problems with the hiring, and I wish we had more. A lot of people are coming into the office asking about hotel jobs,” said BSI chief executive officer Mark A. Brown said.

He said a majority of the applicants are seeking hotel-related jobs.

“Right this moment, majority [of the applicants] are not dealers. I want more dealers,” Brown said, adding that Best Sunshine will be paying trainees to deal at $7.25 per hour.

Brown said locals are encouraged to avail of the training and if they don’t like it, at least they will get paid for undergoing the training.

“We will train you, and you will learn how to deal at $7.25 an hour. And I’m telling you, you will love it,” Brown said.

At least two lawmakers are encouraging local residents to give the Best Sunshine opportunity a try.

Rep. Joseph Lee Pan Guerrero (R-Saipan) said locals should commit to that first step and apply for the casino jobs.

“They should not be intimidated. This is an opportunity,” Guerrero said.

Rep. John Paul Sablan (R-Saipan) earlier said he is particularly worried about the low turnout of local residents applying for jobs posted by Best Sunshine.

“I met with some of the management of Best Sunshine and from what I gathered, there were only a hundred applicants,” Sablan said.

Sablan said he is “concerned” with the low turnout. “Where are our manpower, how come they are not applying for job opportunities?” Sablan asked.

“I want to encourage all locals to apply, whether as a dealer, a bellhop, an attendant, a receptionist, or a waiter, ” Sablan said, noting that he does not want the economy to “collapse” due to a manpower shortage.

“Our locals are not as aggressive as they should be [in applying for the jobs],” Sablan said, adding that he wants locals to “not be discouraged.”