The Senate — which is dominated by Rota and Tinian, both of which have legalized casinos — believes that the will of the people of Saipan should be respected.
“I am mindful of the fact that the people of Saipan have already spoken about this in the past,” Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Ind.-Rota, told the Variety.
Saipan voters have rejected the casino proposal in 1979 and 2007.
Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes, R-Saipan, agreed with Manglona.
“The people have spoken. The people have rejected the establishment of a casino on Saipan. I think we should respect the wish of the majority of the population on Saipan. To do otherwise would be disrespectful to the mandates of the people,” said Reyes.
The CNMI Constitution states that “Gambling is prohibited in the Northern Mariana Islands except as provided by Commonwealth law or established through initiative in the Commonwealth or in any senatorial district.”
This means that a Saipan casino bill must be passed by both houses of the Legislature, or through an initiative signed by at least 20 percent of the island’s voters and ratified by two-thirds of the voters.
“I don’t like casinos,” Reyes said.
Speaker Froilan C. Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan, said a casino will attract other investments and more visitors to the island.
“The only thing that can revive our economy is the casino,” he said.
