Group seeks to stop Best Sunshine hotel project
A civic group is planning to stop the construction of a hotel casino at a site in Garapan that has been determined to be an ancient burial ground for Chamorros.
This despite Best Sunshine International, Ltd. already being granted a lease and the necessary permits from the Department of Public Lands and the Commonwealth Zoning Board, respectively.
Liana M.S. Hofschneider, founder of the Council of Chamorro Advancement, has submitted a letter of opposition to Public Lands last April 28. The letter indicated that the leased area “hosts significant cultural and historical past” and a site of an ancient Chamorro village. The letter asks DPL to rescind the lease deal, and accept the suggestion of her group to convert the area into a Memorial Walking Park.
Hofschneider said the remains of ancient Chamorros are scattered in the area, indicating that it is an ancient burial ground, which is estimated to be more 1,000 years old.
Aside from the letter of opposition, Hofschneider said her group is also looking for “other ways” to prevent the construction of the casino resort.
She lamented that there seems to be no concrete plans on what Best Sunshine plans to do with the ancient remains, which under CNMI laws should be preserved.
Hofschneider said under CNMI laws, there are protocols for natural history and places of historical significance that should be followed.
Hofschneider earlier said she is not against Best Sunshine per se but is against the “desecration” of historical places, particularly where the Best Sunshine hotel and casino is expected to rise.
She has also asked that Best Sunshine find an alternative location so that the area can be transformed into a walking park.
“We are for responsible development,” Hofschneider, adding that there was no consultation with Best Sunshine on the historical sites.
She also lambasted agencies such as the Historic Preservation Office and DPL for allowing the company to build on the site without “proper consultations.”
Hofschneider said, “It does not mean that if something is approved,” it is “within the law.” She added that her group is gathering data and evidence to prove that the area should not be used for the casino.
Permits
The Zoning Board, after a public hearing, voted unanimously to grant the zoning permit to Best Sunshine to build its first hotel casino on the CNMI, to be located on Garapan.
Mark Brown, CEO of Best Sunshine, presented a computer-generated model of the hotel that he said will be called the “Grand Mariana.”
Grand Mariana will be 14 storeys high and will have 254 rooms and six villas. The parking lot will have more than 200 parking slots, accessible via a 30-foot side street.
Brown said it will have a casino, restaurants facing the beach, shopping stalls, and others.
The hotel is expected to rise in a more than 19,000-square-meter public land that has been leased to Best Sunshine for 40 years.
Brown also promised that all the questions of preserving the local culture will be considered, not just in the design of the hotel building but also on how to address the concern on the issue of the burial grounds.
The area in question is currently surrounded by a corrugated roof fence and several heavy machinery can be seen inside the premises.
It is in the best interest of Best Sunshine to STOP listening to these political Bureaucrats – Some of those Elected and Appointed officials AND not to mention some of your so-called LOCAL Advisors or Consultants; because they are getting you – BSI, your INVESTORS and your INVESTMENTS deeper into the “Crematorium” Chambers.
First, HPO and DPL knew that the Makaka Beach/Samoan Housing Land in Garapn was and is an Ancient Chamorro Village and Burial Ground since 1984, 1994, 2004 and most recently 2014.
There were more than 300 Ancient Chamorro bones and artifacts that have been dug up but have not been buried back. What gives you folks the right that the Ancient Ancestral Chamorros deserve to be desecrated and be placed in a storage room somewhere out there…who knows where? Isn’t this a “Crime Against Humanity?” HPO and DPL knew that this is a place of “Historical and Cultural Significance…” AND why are they not submitting including this PLACE to be listed in both CNMI and Federal National Historic Preservation?
WHERE IS HPO’s ANNUAL LISTING OF THE COMMONWEALTH INVENTORY OF HISTORIC, CULTURAL AND NATURAL HISTORY LISTING? ISN’T THIS A PART OF YOUR MANDATE AS AN OFFICE IN COLLABORATION WITH DPL? AND WHAT IS THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS SECRETARY LAURA OGUMORO AND HPO DIRECTOR MERTI KANI DOING ABOUT THIS GROSS NEGLECT OF DUTY ISSUE?
BUT WAIT! During the two public hearings Best Sunshine NEVER showed us how they are, and will be, treating the bones and artifacts of our Chamoru Ancestors dating as far back as 1000 years. Mr. Mark Brown pitched his executive marketing speech BUT NEVER showed us how our Ancestral Remains will be handled. You stated at the public hearings and in your statement in this article that Best Sunshine has these plans. BUT YOU NEED TO ANSWER THE WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY AND THE HOW because we did not see them in your PLANS and PERSPECTUS MODEL that you presented at the two public meetings.
Please Mr. Brown, for the sake of your Investors and Investments, just STOP the tail chasing because you have a 40 years Exclusive Casino license…AND THAT IS YOU ONLY! to do business here in the CNMI, so save us all the trouble and choose another site to build the Casino. It is bad luck to build your FIRST CASINO in the CNMI on top of a NAFTAN//SIPUTURA because we have not consented nor did they give consent from i Man Mo’fo’na those that we affectionately refer to as i Tautau Mona. BAD, BAD, BAD LUCK! Ask the Japanese investor what is the true reason why they pulled out? And better yet, ask why the Samoan Housing was closed; AND all other business that were built on the properties – Joy Hut, Martin’s Bar & Grill to list a few. And you would think that CASINO on this SACRED LAND is acceptable? IT IS AN OUTRIGHT DISRESPECT AND DISREGARD TO OUR ANCIENT CHAMORRO PEOPLE WHO ONCE THRIVED ON THESE LAND!
I did tell you Mr. Brown that there are many possible ALTERNATIVE sites such as take over the former Nikko Hotel and La Fiesta Properties in As Matuis.
Now, if you are still insisting that Garapan is the place to be. Then, take over the dilapidated MIHA Housing and Garapan Elementary School and Build a New School with a Gym or Multipurpose Center for the students in Garapan and the area. In fact, build a middle school along side the elementary. With the $7 billion investment that BSI promised in exchange for the Exclusive Casino license, this should not be a problem, right? Think about this alternative; and work with PSS this time because our elected officials Sens. Arnold Palacios, Sixto Igisomar and Cong. Joe Deleon Guerrero FAILED to include PSS in the decision process to EXEMPT Best Sunshine from the Zoning Law. I know that you are aware that Garapan Elementary School is only CADDY CORNER from the proposed site of your Casino; and it is against the law, so they amended the law within 24 hours without consultation….you must know this right? You see Mr. Brown, like I said, DON’T TRUST THEM! TRUST THE PUBLIC…THEY ARE THE GOVERNMENT…NOT THEM! THEY JUST CONVENIENTLY FORGOT THAT!
Peace!