How much disrespect do the people have to tolerate from these proponents of casinos — like I ask my students, what is it (investors and proponents) you don’t understand about the word NO? The people and their representatives at the state level of government have said NO tooooo many times and you need to respect their decision.
The investors need to know they are seriously disrespecting the people of Saipan, Tinian and Rota by continuing to try and force U.S. to accept their plans. Just because you have people in office on your side does not mean you have the support of the entire Government that is OF, FOR and BY the PEOPLE. You are treading down a dangerous path now with the attempt to circumvent the power of State Government because there will be STATE REGULATIONS governing any kind of casino activity if the Municipal Council is “politically stupid” enough to create such a Local Ordinance, which I believe they actually have the right to do. Local governments will always have to yield to State Government — that is how the Federal System works so it won’t work in the long run. State Laws will always over-rule Local Ordinances and that is how we counter this recent move by the casino advocates.
The Senate shouldn’t waste their time and money with taking them to court because they just might win. But the Senate won’t have to worry because first and foremost all of the Municipal Council will be replaced for doing something so adverse to the desires of the PEOPLE and the NEW Municipal Council can change and even kill any Local Ordinance for casinos — so take your chances investors disrespecting the voters with this power play that is doomed to back-fire with the next Municipal Council. Secondly, if our voters are truly on top of their game in the next election, the next Legislature will surely have a different make-up for a number of reasons and have the power to create some stringent laws and requirements to govern over any new Casinos Ordinances. For example: ALL future casinos will have to pay much higher fees, taxes, license, create a required public assistance & education fund and a lot more so the investors will have no choice but to walk away. This law will also protect the present casinos from future turf wars and give them a chance to prosper and grow.
It seems these investors are trying to extend the game on us just like I predicted and we must be prepared to go into overtime on this issue because these investors, their figure-heads and mouth pieces are not going to quit and I Told You So, which nobody can deny! I also told readers the casino desire of investors is the main reason we can’t get started on any other economic solution and now I pray every voter can now see the light. The sad part is every voter won’t read this letter so every reader has an ethical responsibility to share these words of wisdom by telling a friend to tell and another friend to continue to say NO and to ask our government for something BETTER in the CNMI than a gambling spot in the Pacific. One people one direction for a NEW DIRECTION in our economic plight!
AMBROSE M. BENNETT
Kagman, Saipan
