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Tasi: We do business with 11 others on Managaha
In light of issues concerning the island’s marine sports operators, Tasi Tours disclosed yesterday that it may have the only concession rights on Managaha Island but they do business with 11 other firms on the property.
Tasi Tours spokesman David Igitol also pointed out that the company has been doing business on Managaha since December 1989 and the company has paid almost $10 million in concession fees in the last 22 years, benefiting the government and the entire community.
“Tasi Tours is currently doing business with 11 companies through the Managaha concession agreement. All of these companies have employees and all of the employees have families. Even now, Tasi is talking with another company to start doing business together on Managaha,” said Igitol yesterday.
He said it is important to remember that while only Tasi Tours has a contract with the Department of Public Lands, it is not the only company doing business on the island. The existing contract also carries the responsibility for the island’s daily operation, cleanup, repair, and maintenance, he added.
“Tasi’s business related to Managaha is like a business managing a shopping center. At a shopping center, some stores are managed by the owner and many stores are managed by tenants. Every tenant should have a proper contract to do business there,” he said, adding that a good shopping center has the power to pull in customers and that power needs good management and good maintenance for continued success.
Marine sports operators that don’t have concession rights on Managaha are planning to hold a rally today to raise public awareness about their issue.
Five marine sports operators recently sued DPL for barring them access to Managaha Island to pick up their Saipan-based customers. These operators are Island Marine Sports Inc., Aquatic Marine Co. Inc. doing business as Amigo Aquatic Sports, Automarine Inc., Seahorse Inc., and BSEA Inc. They are suing DPL to invalidate the department’s rule promulgated on Dec. 13, 2011, and June 14, 2012. They want the community to know that they have been severely affected by DPL’s “arbitrary rule.”
Tasi Tours earlier argued in court that DPL simply told the marine sports operators to stop their activities on Managaha because there is a concession agreement between Tasi Tours and DPL for exclusive rights to all commercial concessions on the island.
Igitol refused to comment on the planned rally today.
By Moneth Deposa
Reporter
