By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

THE Tinian legislative delegation chaired by Covenant Sen. Henry H. San Nicolas is supporting the effort of Mayor Jose P. San Nicolas to charge a “reasonable” entrance fee at the island’s Kastiyu Wildlife Park.
Senator San Nicolas yesterday said there’s no way they will advise the mayor to lower the fees just to accommodate concerns raised by some individuals.
“Instead, we may consider raising it in the future for the facility’s maintenance,” he told Variety.
Some Marianas Visitors Authority board members believe that Tinian is charging a “high” fee, but the senator said that an onsite inspection of the place should first be conducted prior to making any such disappointing statements.
“I am inviting the MVA board members to come down and see first-hand this place before coming up with such statements. We are not turning away tourists because of the fee…in fact this is built to attract them and our locals,” he said.
The park has various kinds of animals and fruit trees, and the $2 per child entrance fee and $5 for adult helps the Tinian mayor pay for the animals’ food and maintenance of the place, the senator said.
“Instead of getting it from the general fund, we’re trying to explore other means to sustain our needs without jeopardizing other services for our people. And this wildlife park is a good example,” the senator said, adding that Kastiyu Wildlife Park is the only place under the mayor’s jurisdiction that is charging an entry fee.
Other places like the war memorial sites are open free to the public, he added.