TO STRENGTHEN CASINO INDUSTRY TCGCC vows to work closely with lawmakers

The Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission will work closely with the 12th CNMI Legislature in seeking new investors for the development of the casino industry on the island, according to TCGCC Vice Chair Martin DLG San Nicolas.

However, the biggest obstacle in luring new investors is the negative publicity which has affected the trust and confidence of the people on the Commission.

“Only when we have gotten back the people’s confidence that we would be able to reconstruct our public image. This should also be our objective before we can get businesses give us a second look,” said Mr. San Nicolas.

In improving the business environment in Tinian, he noted that there has to be a commitment to improve the basic infrastructure and provide the much-needed air service that will ferry tourists from various Asian cities to Tinian.

Mr. San Nicolas said the image of the commission has been badly shattered with the recent indictment of its former executive director. He was referring to the manhunt launched by federal authorities in connection with the indictment of Paul Palmer, former executive director of TCGCC who had allegedly swindled the gaming commission and an Australian company by creating fictitious companies which maintained bank accounts in the Philippines and Nevada.

Mr. Palmer was charged with nine counts of wire fraud, mail fraud and interstate transportation of stolen properties. He was indicted on Aug. 5, 1999 but the case has been sealed pending his arrest.

According to Mr. San Nicolas, TCGCC committed its biggest mistake when it gave so much power to Mr. Palmer. Although Mr. Palmer’s abuse of power has created a big scandal, there is a strong commitment from every member of the commission now that such incident will not be allowed to happen again.

Mr. Palmer was last seen in 1997 after he attended a Senate Committee hearing where he was being investigated for illegal disbursement of funds. FBI investigation revealed that Palmer “did devise a scheme and plan to defraud TCGCC and its casino license applicants. . .to enrich himself.”

The Commission is still awaiting the results of the investigation conducted by the Office of the Public Auditor as well as the recommendations it would make. Mr. San Nicolas said this would help them make the necessary policies and carry out programs of the commission.

Funding for the operation of TCGCC comes from the monthly tax payment of Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino amounting to $200,000. While TCGCC and the Legislative leaders have supported Tinian Dynasty in acquiring more tax incentives for the only hotel casino on the island-municipality, Mr. San Nicolas said management must also do something to get more competent key staff that can help generate the needed revenue.