Tinian Dynasty employees yet to get almost 4 months of back wages

The good news is that Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino employees got paid two weeks ago. But the bad news is that the paychecks they got were for their late February to early March payroll.

“We still haven’t received our paychecks for March to June. It’s now July,” said one of the employees in an interview.

Another said while their employer is behind by almost four months in paying their wages, she’s thankful she still has a job, considering the economic hardships not only on Tinian but in the entire CNMI as well.

Tinian Dynasty employees customarily agree to speak on condition of anonymity.

The management of the hotel and casino has been saying that they are trying their best to meet payroll on time.

One of the employees also said despite charter flights to Tinian, many of the tourists do not play in the casino.

Payless paydays are rampant in the CNMI mostly because of lack of tourists which is the main economic driver, and the high costs of utilities and other basic consumer products.

Even the CNMI central government has been delayed in paying its non-critical government employees. These employees are expected to get their paycheck on Wednesday, or days after their Thursday and Friday payroll.

Tinian municipal employees rely on casino revenues for their payroll, which amounts to about $48,000 every two weeks.

In related news, Tinian Mayor Ramon Dela Cruz said Saipan lawmakers should allow Saipan voters to decide whether through an initiative whether they want casino gambling to be legalized on their island.

A local bill seeking to legalize casino operations on Saipan is under review by two committees of the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation.

But members of the House leadership, including Rep. Froilan Tenorio (Cov-Saipan) said casino operation will prosper more on Saipan than on Tinian or Rota because Saipan has more readily available amenities such as direct flights, golf courses, and water parks.

During Tenorio’s term as governor, the CNMI central government loaned over $3.353 million to the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission in 1997 as “seed money” for Tinian’s casino industry.

With only three repayments totaling $250,000, the Tinian commission still owes the central government over $3.103 million.

The House leadership said Tinian Dynasty also owes the central government some $30 million in taxes. This debt is incurred only by Dynasty’s hotel, because its casino pays dues to the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission.

For members of the House majority who support a local Saipan casino bill, Tinian’s casino operation only benefit Tinian and not the whole CNMI.

But the Tinian mayor said this is not true. He said Tinian Dynasty-bound tourists stay first on Saipan and spend on the island, before they are brought to Tinian.