15 complete Best Sunshine’s Baccarat dealer course

Imperial Pacific International chief operating officer Yiu Ling Kwong, center, joins company and local government officials, and the first batch that completed the Baccarat Dealer Training course in last Thursday night’s simple ceremony at Best Sunshine International’s temporary office at the Bank of Guam building in Garapan. (Jon Perez)

Fifteen individuals comprise the first batch that completed Best Sunshine International, Ltd.’s Baccarat dealer training course, receiving their certificates in a simple ceremony held Thursday night at BSI’s temporary office at the fourth floor of the Bank of Guam building in Garapan.

The training started in early September and ended last week. The original group numbered more than 20 but only 15 completed the 160-hour course.

Imperial Pacific International chief operating officer Yiu Ling Kwong congratulated and welcomed the 15 to the BSI family. “Today we celebrate the first batch of individuals that completed the dealer training course.”

“We’re surprised that the dropout rate is only 10 percent. You will be the first priority when it comes to hiring dealers. Now comes a memorable moment of your life. Congratulations for working so hard and we are going to see you working the casino tables pretty soon.”

BSI offered the training course to residents and U.S. citizens. The 15 that completed the course, where they also learned security regulations and other aspects of the gaming industry, also had to pass a final exam.

“Apart from your skills, it is important to know compliance and how to serve our customers. These are among the important parts of the service industry and observed by the entire gaming industry,” said Kwong, who was joined by other IPI and BSI officials.

Samantha Aderwangel, who represented the group, said they were pleased and relieved for completing the course. “On behalf of my fellow students, it has been a great privilege to be given the chance to learn and finish the course.”

“We survived all the frustrations and nervousness and we’ve come a long way in finishing our 160 hours. It is nice to be part of this training when BSI opened its doors. The lessons would help us get to the next stage as we put to use the technical skills that we learned,” she said.

“We can’t stand on our own. We have mentors who are dedicated in helping us complete the tasks at hand. We are grateful to the company’s support,” added Aderwangel, who was among four women that completed the course.

In a statement, BSI said that aside from providing a variety of job opportunities for residents and U.S. citizens on Saipan, they are also committed to educating the local workforce to learn more about the gaming industry.

“The Baccarat Dealing Course by BSI was the first systematic and technical course being introduced to local students. This has been an extensive and rigorous 160-hour training course,” said the statement.

General gaming procedures, technical Baccarat skills and knowledge, the casino services standard and how to deal with irregularities, and special circumstances of table games are the things that the trainees learned in the close to two-month course.

There where 18 who started the course—13 locals, two Employment Authorization Document holders, two green card holders, and one CW1 (CNMI-Only Transitional Worker nonimmigrant visa)—but three dropped out.

“And now they have been trained to be professional Baccarat dealers that could assist when the Imperial Pacific Resort opens next year,” added BSI in the statement.

BSI praised the perseverance of the trainees. “The company recognizes these trainees who have committed their time and effort for participating in the course and building a new career in the gaming industry.”

Labor Secretary Edith Deleon Guerrero, Commonwealth Casino Commission executive director Edward Deleon Guerrero, CCC chair Juan M. Sablan, and vice chair Joseph C. Reyes were the other local officials that attended the ceremony.