Nov. 28, 2006 — It's hot, hot, hot at the Divi Carina Bay Casino, but the slot machines and blackjack tables don't account for all that heat — the air conditioning hasn't worked since last week.
"A lot of people come [to the casino] especially for the air conditioning," said Casino general manager Anton Kuipers. "We are doing the best we can to get the situation resolved quickly."
The compressors failed Wednesday, Kuipers said, causing one of the seven main air-conditioning units to shut down over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Earlier this week, a casino employee who would not give his name said conditions for workers have been unbearable for the last three weeks.
According to a news release from the casino, the failure of the compressors made "the area around and adjacent to the main cage uncomfortably warm."
The replacement compressors have to be shipped in from Pennsylvania, according to Kuipers. Since the mechanical failure occurred during the holiday, he said, there was a delay in the shipment.
"New compressors have been procured and will be arriving by plane on Friday and will be installed immediately," Kuipers said.
The main cage and gift shop were affected by the failure, and Kuipers apologized for the discomfort of the casino's patrons and staff. He encouraged patrons to continue to enjoy the casino.
"We would like to thank our patrons and staff for their continued support," Kuipers said. "We have the hottest machines and dice in the U.S. Virgin Islands."
The casino is open from noon to 4 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and noon to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call 773-7529 or visit the casino's website.
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