‘Eight years later, some Tinian homesteads still stand empty’
Former senator says island needs to rebuild economy
Former Tinian senator Henry H. San Nicolas filed last week his candidacy as an independent bet for Tinian mayor before Commonwealth Election Commission administrative officer Kayla Igitol. With San Nicolas are some supporters and family members. (Ferdie De La Torre)
Some homesteads on Tinian that were awarded eight years ago still don’t have houses due to lack of utilities, according to former Tinian senator Henry Hofschneider San Nicolas.
He disclosed that some people just clean up the lots. “They have not started building their homes because the [utility] infrastructure is not there yet—road, water, power,” said San Nicolas.
He intends to make this his priority. San Nicolas filed last week his candidacy as an independent bet for the Tinian mayoral race. His opponent is Rep. Edwin Palacios Aldan, who is a Republican.
If elected, San Nicolas said he will be working on the utilities infrastructure so that people issued with homesteads can actually start building their homes.
“There still a lot of things that need to be done on Tinian,” said San Nicholas, citing that they still have roads that have not been paved.
The most important thing for him is rebuilding the island’s economy in the wake of the closure of the Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino. The former senator, who cited the outsized role the Dynasty played in the Tinian economy, said there are potential businesses that have expressed an interest in setting up business on Tinian.
San Nicolas served for nine years as senator. He retired in 2009 after his second term as senator ended.