By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

SEVERAL Tinian residents expressed their support for the Marianas Resort Development Corp’s. public land lease agreement during a public hearing there on Tuesday, according to Vice Speaker Justo S. Quitugua, D-Saipan.
Held at the Tinian court house, the public hearing was attended by at least 30 residents, Quitugua said.
“Most of the people testified in favor of MRDC due mainly to the economic situation especially on Tinian — saying we should embrace all potential business activities that will help the island,” the vice speaker told Variety.
He said only three persons disapproved of providing the casino investor with the land it needs for its hotel and golf course project.
“They have concerns about the lease…due to pending homestead applications,” Quitugua said. “These people would like to see the homestead applicants be given their homesteads first before leasing their land to the investor,” he said.
Lawmakers, he added, recognize the “important views” of these Tinian residents.
Quitugua said their findings will be submitted to the Senate and the House of Representatives which will hold a joint session and vote on MRDC’s lease agreement, which involves over 5 hectares of land.
“MRDC wants to run a casino on Tinian and build a golf course,” Quitugua said. “So that’s two major activities from MRDC…economic activities that will help the CNMI in general,” he added.
The public hearing on Tinian was conducted by the House and Senate committees on resources and economic development.
Once the Legislature approves the land lease agreement, MRDC said it will start construction of its $179 million casino facility.