Tinian residents back Neo Gold Wings land lease

A letter signed by 61 Tinian residents supports Neo Gold Wings Paradise’s proposal to lease 3,000 hectares of public land in the Pina area where it hopes to build a “6-star, 1,000-room” hotel resort and casino worth $200 million to $500 million.

“Under our current economic situation, we must all rally [behind] and support by giving Neo Gold Wings Paradise the opportunity to help us restore our economy,” the 61 residents said in a letter addressed to Senate President Pete P. Reyes and House Speaker Arnold I. Palacios.

Antonio H. Borja, chairman of the Tinian Municipal Council, also supports Neo Gold Wings Paradise’s land lease proposal, subject to a thorough review of the provisional lease “to ensure that we, the owners of the public lands, are protected while at the same time ensure that positive economic boost is forthcoming.”

“We admit that Tinian’s economy must be stimulated. This public land lease proposal may just be that stimulus. As you may know, Neo Gold Wings Paradise is proposing to build 800-1,000 rooms, with tourist amenities, which is exactly what we need to continue to promote and sell Tinian as a fun destination and a playground in paradise,” Borja said in a letter to Sen. Jude U. Hofshneider, chairman of the Senate Committee on Resources, Economic Development and Programs.

Hofschneider’s committee and the House Committee on Natural Resources chaired by Rep. Ramon A. Tebuteb held a public hearing on the proposed land agreement between the Department of Public Lands and Neo Gold Wings Paradise on Feb. 12 in the Tinian courthouse.

“So far, the committee has not received formal or written comments opposing the land lease proposal,” Hofschneider said Wednesday.

Two days after the public hearing on Tinian, 61 Tinian residents submitted a letter in support of Neo Gold Wings Paradise’s investment on the island, which has one operating casino, the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino, and two other investors with permits to also develop casinos.

The Tinian residents said Neo Gold Wings Paradise had shown its willingness to participate in the economic development of Tinian and the CNMI.

“Neo Gold Wings Paradise had made it very clear that it will be a difficult task, but working in partnership with the community and the CNMI leadership is imperative to realize progress,” the residents said.

They also said that the DPL secretary has done due diligence in providing “a well structured and worded lease agreement, including a schedule in securing financing and actual construction timeframe.”

The residents urged the House and Senate leadership to call for a joint session to give ample time for the joint legislative committee “to complete their committee report and favorable recommendation.”

Borja, in his two-page letter, said once Neo Gold Wings Paradise begins construction on the public land, it will have a positive trickle-down effect on Tinian’s economy.

“It is no secret that if we continue to nurture our casino industry, more jobs will be created for our local people and foreign workers alike. It means more revenues for the people of Tinian and a brighter future. Therefore, the proposed land lease of Neo Gold Wings Paradise should be approved,” he said.

Plans and proposals to build new casinos on Tinian come at a time when the federal government is about to take over CNMI immigration by June 1.

Last week, Neo Gold Wings Paradise chairman and president Hyun Myung told the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that he’s not questioning the reasons behind the implementation of federal immigration regulations in the CNMI and the exclusion of Chinese and Russian tourists from the federal visa waiver program but he is “quite baffled by the lack of sensitivity” to its economic effect.