Tinian lawmakers OK fund transfer

The Tinian Legislative Delegation has adopted a resolution allowing the transfer of some $3 million from the $8 million fund allocated to the Tinian Civic Center under Section 702 of the Covenant for the extension of existing West Tinian Airport runway.

However, the ports authority must set aside a certain amount of revenue from the renovated airport to reimburse the lawmakers of the $3 million CIP fund.

According to the lawmakers, the survival of Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino depends on the immediate renovation of the airport which will accommodate bigger aircraft.

Management of the financially troubled Tinian Dynasty has blamed the failure of the CNMI government to make good its promise to expand the airport in exchange for its huge investment on the island-municipality of Tinian.

But observers believe that failure of Tinian Dynasty to lure tourists to come to the island has nothing to do with the improvement which must be carried out at the airport but the ongoing Asian economic crisis.

The Federal Aviation Administration has already provided $3.8 million for the implementation of the first phase of the airport expansion covering 1,000 feet.

Based on the master plan, the total construction cost of the airport runway will amount to $20.2 million while the terminal building with a jetway will cost $24 million. The ports authority is hoping that additional funding would come from the local government and the private sector as the agency has been beset with financial problems.

Due to lack of funds, the cash-strapped ports authority would not be able to shoulder the total cost of the airport renovation project. With the slowdown in tourism economy, CPA has been having difficulty in raising the needed revenue to meet its financial obligations.

While the Tinian lawmakers welcomed the federal assistance, the ports authority is still $20 million short to complete the airside improvements which include the construction of a connecting taxiway, a new apron and the conversion of the existing runway. Completion of the airside improvement alone may take up to three years.

Faced with this problem, CPA board member Ray Cing from Tinian proposed to modify the master plan by extending the existing runway first before building a new one. However, FAA has indicated that it will not allow the use of money to pay for a runway expansion.

The resolution was signed by Joaquin Adriano, chairman of the Tinian Delegation, Jose A. Hocog, vice chairman, Sen. Herman M. Manglona and Sen. David M. Cing.