Former Speaker Pedro P. Guerrero, in an interview yesterday, said he respects the position of anti-gambling advocates but he challenges them to come up with something that will provide the commonwealth with the revenues that a casino can generate.
“They should start looking at the reality that the CNMI needs revenue to support its health care system, education and the Retirement Fund,” he said.
He recalled that in the 2007 elections, almost 4,000 voted for the establishment of a casino on Saipan despite the limited time they had in educating the public about its benefits.
Guerrero said if they had enough time, the casino proposal would have passed.
As long as they are authorized by law, the proposed amendments to the lottery regulations should be respected, he said.
The anti-gambling groups, he added, always come out against the casino. “But what have they done so far? Have they done anything to eradicate poker arcades in the villages?”
He said if only one company submitted a proposal to run a lottery, “why blame them?”
Commonwealth Substance Abuse and Prevention Coalition president George Cruz last week aired their opposition against the proposed amendments to the lottery regulations, saying it will only benefit Bridge Capital, which wants to operate gambling machines at the former La Fiesta Mall.
Guerrero said anti-gambling advocates will continue to oppose a casino without offering an alternative plan for economic recovery.
He said he planned to again push a casino proposal this year, but decided against it because he expects voters to focus on the gubernatorial election.
“I hope the Legislature will be brave and honest enough to realize that there’s no way for economic recovery other than establishing casino on Saipan,” he added.
