Fair and balanced development for all islands of the CNMI
During the last year, Mega Stars has learned much about the challenges and the uncertainties facing investors in the CNMI. We have devoted a tremendous amount of resources—financial resources and human resources—to rescue the Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino. We settled unpaid wages, unpaid taxes, and debts. We also inherited several lawsuits that arose before our time. Just when we were starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, we were caught with another surprise: the sudden passage of the Saipan casino law. In order to protect all that we had invested—and had committed to invest—on Tinian, we had no choice but to compete for a Saipan casino license.
We respect the Lottery Commission’s decision Tuesday to award an exclusive Saipan casino license to the other applicant. We sincerely hope this will bring the much‐needed economic prosperity to the people of the CNMI.
However, Tinian is also an important part of the CNMI. We hope CNMI elected officials will remember that the casino industry is a vitally important part of the economy and tax base of Tinian—and of the CNMI as a whole. We urge the CNMI’s leaders to adopt a fair and balanced approach to developing all of the CNMI’s islands.
We will certainly be impacted by having to compete with a mega‐casino on Saipan. Before we can define our strategy moving forward, we will need time to re‐assess and re‐evaluate our situation. We know this much, however: We are proud to be members of the community on Tinian and in the CNMI, and hope we can remain so for years to come.
Cario Hon
CEO, Mega Stars Overseas Ltd.
Dear Mr. Hon,
Please do not hope! Make it happen. Mega Stars has an edge in that you are already here. Your strategy may change such that you may now target at exclusively wholesome market using Tinian’s smaller, more pristine, and more peaceful environment.
Unlike Saipan, the casino industry on Tinian was established not for the industry itself but as an added attraction to resorts offering a variety of experiences for the visitors. This is the reason the initiative and regulations are very restrictive. You can still do this.
Let Saipan build on its casino industry catering to whoever and whatever group willing to spend money on its casino floor. Let Tinian cater to families and individuals looking for an array of wholesome experiences in a more wholesome environment. These are our advantage.
I encourage you and other investors to be a part of the leadership to mold and build Tinian into an economically viable and environmentally sound destination. If you are proud to be a part of the Tinian community then take the responsibility seriously and do not look at Tinian as just another investment opportunity. Look at it as your home and be a part of its development in all areas, including developing its social and political maturity. Help to stimulate economic advancement but also help in establishing control mechanisms to protect the parts of the island that makes it attractive solidifying your market edge. Rampant and uncontrolled growth, such as in Saipan, is not the intent of the initiative establishing casino industry on Tinian, and it was not and is not the desire of the people of Tinian.