After applauding the senators for rejecting House Bill 17-55, or the Saipan casino measure on Friday, Dela Cruz said the issue has somehow divided the CNMI people.
Mindful of what the casino supporters might feel after the bill was rejected, he said the people of Saipan, Tinian and Rota should work together in finding other ways to revive the economy.
“This issue has put the commonwealth in a very bad position because it kind of divided the people,” Dela Cruz said.
He noted that the people of Tinian and Rota legalized casino on their islands, while the people of Saipan have rejected it twice.
Dela Cruz said he recognizes the desire of the Saipan casino proponents to bring in new revenue but, he added, “the key to our prosperity is to work together as one commonwealth so we can compete well with other Micronesian neighbors for visitors.”
He added, “We should come together as one family instead of fighting among ourselves.”
His brother, Tinian Mayor Ramon M. Dela Cruz, said Speaker Froilan C. Tenorio should find a way to revive the earned income tax credit program for low-income individuals.
Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan, promised voters last year that he would reestablish the program which was implemented when he was governor.
