Group leader says senator was supposed to pay

Former Tinian representative Edwin Aldan clarified yesterday that someone was using his name as he did not make the reservations for five rooms at the Chalan Kanoa Beach Hotel for the island’s representatives to the recent annual Flame Tree Festival.

As this developed, Eric Reyes, creative director of Taotao Taga Cultural Dancers, said he and the group have nothing to do with the unpaid $880 hotel bill as Tinian Sen. Jude Hofschneider was supposed to take care of it.

Aldan told Saipan Tribune that he never made reservations for rooms at Chalan Kanoa Beach Hotel for the Tinian representatives to the festival. Aldan said that someone was obviously using his name.

Noel Roque, the hotel’s restaurant manager/assistant general manager, earlier said that it was Aldan who made the reservations.

Roque said that more than 10 people, including, a child, occupied only three rooms from June 9 to 12. The Tinian representatives spent three nights at the hotel but left without paying their $880 bill.

Roque said that Reyes reportedly asked the staff to extend his stay for another day but Reyes never returned, joining the group on their flight to Tinian.

Reyes told Saipan Tribune yesterday that Sen. Hofschneider was supposed to pay the bill later so he and his group have nothing to do with it anymore.

“I did not run away,” Reyes said.

He said he had to join the group back to Tinian that day because of their show at the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino.

Reyes said he called the Chalan Kanoa Beach Hotel that evening to inform them that he was already on Tinian and that it’s up to the management whether to charge the group with an extension.