San Nicolas urges Tinian Dynasty’s new owner to pay investigative fees

Tinian Mayor Joey Patrick San Nicolas is urging the new owner of Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino to cooperate with the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission by depositing required funds to move its stalled casino application forward.

In a letter to Chinese Strategic Holdings Ltd. chair and executive director Kwok Hing Wilfred Lam, San Nicolas said he had been informed that the required $100,000 for investigation fees has not been deposited since Sept. 9.

“This letter is to request your cooperation with TCGCC by depositing the required additional funds requested. I am aware of your concerns with regards to the additional funds being requested. As an applicant, you may ask for an accounting of how the first $100,000 has been expended, as well as any other subsequent deposits, after your license has been approved or denied,” San Nicolas said.

Tinian Entertainment Co., a subsidiary of Chinese Strategic, has to deposit with TCGCC an additional $100,000 refundable investigative fee no later than Sept. 9.

TEC and Chinese Strategic submitted its application for a casino license last Sept. 3, but the documents were actually due on Aug. 24, 2015. Documents required to be submitted by Sept. 4 are still pending as of Sept. 7.

TCGCC executive director Lucia Blanco-Maratita said TCGCC stands ready to expedite the suitability review process for TEC/Chinese Strategic’s casino license application, but they cannot proceed as of Sept. 15 “since neither the documents requested nor the additional licensing costs deposits have been submitted or paid.”

“If the applicant’s non-cooperation continues, I will recommend to the commission, and the commission may not have any choice except to suspend the process and eventually deny the application pursuant to TCGCC regulations. The regulations also require that failure to remit deposits shall result in suspension of the application and if the failure continues it shall result in a permanent forfeiture of the application,” Maratita said.

Maratita said the commission is pleased that San Nicolas is finally showing his support for the commission.

“However, one has to wonder. If he had shown this support from the beginning, would these problems have been avoided?” she asked.

San Nicolas said that, as mayor of the island, he has been very clear about his support in ensuring the success of Tinian’s casino industry.

“This community’s ability to provide jobs, essential programs and service is dependent on your [Chinese Strategic Holdings Ltd.] success. However, I want to also be very clear that I cannot support any applicant or investor, now or in the future, who refuses to comply with the licensure requirements,” San Nicolas said.