Tinian mayor questions continued delay in terminal completion

Tinian and Aguiguan Mayor Ramon M. Dela Cruz is questioning the continued delay in the completion of the Tinian West Field International Airport Departure Terminal, expressing disappointment in the series of setbacks that have delayed the project.

In a letter to Commonwealth Ports Authority executive director Edward Deleon Guerrero, Dela Cruz said that he is “disappointed” upon learning that the bid for a contract to complete the construction of the departure terminal has been cancelled again.

Dela Cruz pointed out in a phone interview yesterday that the Tinian municipality is “never informed” about each cancellation and the reasons for it, adding that they have to find out about it through “third parties.”

“I want to find out the details as to why [CPA] cancelled this and if they did for technical reasons or for whatever reason, I would like to be informed as to when CPA plans to proceed with its final completion,” Dela Cruz said.

It was in February 2005 when then-governor Juan N. Babauta led the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the new departure terminal, touted as a great step toward the economic development of the island and the entire Commonwealth.

“Here it is seven years later and the facility is still not operational,” Dela Cruz said in his April 11 letter to Guerrero. “Would you please advise me and the people of Tinian as to when you think the departure terminal will actually be completed and opened for use?”

Dela Cruz said that he is “anxious” to find out what’s causing the delay the completion of the departure terminal.

“The elected officials of the municipal government should be informed as to why and when do they expect to start it again because we’re depending on this,” said the mayor.

According to Dela Cruz, the departure terminal would allow the island to bring charter flights directly from China.

“Ever since the [Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino] broke ground, we knew that the only way the hotel-casino industry could be successful on Tinian was by having direct flights from China to Tinian,” he said.

Dela Cruz said he was also told that even the U.S. military troops that would conduct military exercises on their leased lands would like to use the departure terminal but its noncompletion and an ongoing lawsuit against its design contractor restricts the use of the structure.

CPA sued Texas-based firm Leo A. Daly Co. last year for allegedly defective designs of the Tinian Airport’s departure terminal and the departure area of the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport.

Leo A. Daly Co. was the same firm contracted to design the dialysis center of the Commonwealth Health Center. The CNMI government filed a $10 million lawsuit against the firm, which settled the case for $2 million.

“Sad to say, we’re involved again in the same fiasco, the same problem: defective design by an A&E firm,” said Dela Cruz.

“The [departure terminal] design was defective and as a result of that, it has pretty much put in question the integrity of the structure of the building,” he added.

According to Dela Cruz, CPA is “working hard” to settle the case but he does not know “if there’s an actual settlement.”

The mayor said his office and the CPA should “work together” given that they are “under the same government.”

“Tinian can provide more revenues for the general fund; however, we need the airport to be fully operational. Please help us help the Commonwealth,” said Dela Cruz.