Dynasty casino closure hurts Tinian govt jobs

The temporary closure of casino operations at the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino not only resulted in more than 100 employees being laid off but it also caused the non-renewal of jobs at the Municipality of Tinian, according to Tinian Mayor Joey Patrick San Nicolas.

He said a number of Tinian municipal employees would not be renewed so long as the casino doors remain shuttered.

Casino revenues provide funding for 43 positions within the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission, Tinian Mayor’s Office, and the Office of the Tinian Municipal Council.

“It is with a heavy heart and great disappointment that I inform you, that I may be unable to renew any employment contracts that are funded by our gaming industry. For as long as Dynasty’s casino floors remain closed, so will our municipal coffers that support our ability to employ our people,” San Nicolas said.

Not only has the casino’s closure affected the Tinian municipality, it has also affected casino employees.

Hong Kong Entertainment consultant Christopher Bishop told Saipan Tribune yesterday that approximately 135 Tinian Dynasty employees were laid off due to the casino’s temporary closure. HKE is the owner of Tinian Dynasty.

Tinian Dynasty remains the largest private employer providing funds to several government agencies, according to Bishop, who used to be the general manager of Tinian Dynasty.

“HKE is working through a large downturn on the business factor—and we have a lot of tour groups having two-island tour packages—due to the issue on Saipan. It’s drastic,” Bishop said.

However, he said Tinian Dynasty’s hotel and restaurant operations are still open.

Nighttime flights at the Francisco C. Ada-Saipan International Airport were stopped for a time after Typhoon Soudelor battered the airport’s instruments.

After that was resolved, however, maintenance of the airport’s specialized fire truck has prevented big planes from coming into the hub, which in turn cancelled flights to Saipan and ultimately stopped tour packages to Tinian.

Bishop also clarified that Tinian Dynasty’s casino won’t reopen after three weeks, which was the timeline given by the Tinian casino commission.

“There isn’t a specific time. TCGCC put the casino on suspension for three weeks but it doesn’t mean the casino will open at the end of three weeks,” he said.

Bishop also clarified that the casino closure is not connected to the $75-million penalty levied on Tinian Dynasty in June this year.

While the casino is closed, Tinian Dynasty is doing its best to be a responsible employer, he said.

“We’re doing the best we can for the employees that were displaced. We’re giving them free rent and free meals at the staff cafeteria and we’ve also put a program to provide for any of the children that are entering school by taking care of their school supplies and we’re doing what we can to ease the pain but we have to move forward as a business,” he said.

“We’re trying to put the employees to good use, ready when the time comes for the casino to reopen,” he added.

Unpaid salaries

Displaced casino employees also got a double whammy of sorts: Not only have they lost their jobs, they are also waiting for their latest salaries to be paid.

Through social media, several former Tinian Dynasty employees claimed that their salaries have yet to be paid.

Bishop declined to comment on the matter further, but noted they got paid on Aug. 14 before the news of the layoffs broke.

Community, programs affected

Due to shortage of funds caused by the casino’s closure, all community programs of the Tinian Mayor’s Office might also be suspended.

“In light of our current situation, I am also anticipating the suspension of all community programs such as our supplemental medical referral assistance, youth programs, and other community events until such time that funds become available,” San Nicolas said.

He said the Tinian local budget funds programs and activities such as youth sports and recreation activities, Tinian’s annual Pika Festival, maintenance of Tinian’s tourist sites, and the operation of the Tinian Guest House on Saipan, which accommodates residents of Tinian currently undergoing dialysis treatment.

“The Tinian leadership is working hard and swiftly to identify, reprioritize, and reallocate funds to help us make ends meet until such time that we are able to begin realizing revenues from our gaming industry,” San Nicolas said.