By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

CNMI Indigenous Entrepreneurs Inc., a group pushing for the legalization of casino gambling on Saipan, says casino workers will be paid the federal minimum wage even if the U.S. Congress doesn’t include the islands in the federal wage hike measure.
Section 4(c) of the casino initiative’s Article 3 states that “the US. minimum wage shall be applicable to employees of the casino operator and will govern the hourly pay rate.” Moreover, “employee benefits such as health and dental insurance, sick and vacation leave programs shall be instituted within the first 12 month of operation”
Former Speaker Pedro R. Guerrero, however, said the wage provision of their initiative was not influenced by the impending action of Congress.
He said the draft of the petition was completed five years ago.
Still, he added, CNMI Indigenous Entrepreneurs Inc. supports the extension of the federal minimum wage rate to the islands.
“We support (the federal wage hike) because we feel that lucrative businesses like casinos can afford it,” Guerrero said.
He said Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino should also pay its employees the federal minimum wage.
According to the former speaker, over 300 people signed the initiative petition on Saturday.
Before it can be placed on the ballot for the next general elections — which is in November this year — the petition has to be signed by at least 20 percent of the total number of registered voters on Saipan.
The initiative has to be approved by at least two-thirds of the voters before it can be ratified.
In the 2005 gubernatorial election, 11,163 cast their ballots on Saipan. Twenty percent of this number is 2,233, and two-thirds is 7,446.
Guerrero expressed optimism that they will exceed the required number of signatures and estimates getting 6,000 to 10,000 signatures before November.
Among those who signed the petition on Saturday were Sen. Luis Crisostimo D-Saipan, former Marianas District Legislature President Vicente N. Santos, and former Public Works Secretary Juan S. Reyes.
The initiative will create the Saipan Casino Commission. Each member will be compensated $4,000 monthly.
The commission may change, subject to the approval of the Saipan legislative delegation, the compensation five years from the inception of the commission.