Saipan, CNMI, Marianas Variety – The Tinian legislative delegation is still „clueless“ about the plan of Bridge Investment Group LLC, which earlier announced its intention to open a new casino on the island.

Covenant Sen. Henry H. San Nicolas, the delegation chairman, said officials and representatives of the company have yet to communicate with lawmakers.

The company postponed its casino groundbreaking in December following the introduction of Saipan gaming bills. The measures were never passed.

San Nicolas said that they are still banking on the „sincerity“ of Bridge Investment.

„We’re still waiting to hear from them in relation to their preparations, plans and changes, if there are any, in their decision to open a casino on Tinian. We’re still hoping that they will push through with this project,“ San Nicolas said.

Bridge Investment has leased 85,000 sq. meters of private land on Tinian for its casino facility.

San Nicolas said the company will suffer „losses“ if it will not push through with its planned investment.

He hopes that the delay is just a result of permitting procedures.

The delegation, he added, plans to have a conference with the company’s vice president, Philip Mendiola-Long.

„We want to know what’s the real status of their plan so that if they’re facing some delays and difficulty in securing permits in agencies, the delegation and the municipality can offer help to expedite the process,“ the senator said.