Frank Cruz
Marissa Flores
TINIAN Sen. Frank Q. Cruz and Rep. Marissa Flores of Saipan on Tuesday engaged in a heated argument over Public Law 18-56, which legalized casino gaming on Saipan.
The two were among the lawmakers attending a joint meeting of the Senate Committee on Resources, Economic Development & Programs, the House Gaming Committee, Commonwealth Casino Commission Vice Chair Ralph S. Demapan and CCC Executive Director Andrew Yeom.
The lawmakers wanted an update on CCC’s ongoing revocation hearing against Imperial Pacific International.
During the discussions, Cruz advised Yeom to seek legal counsel’s guidance when answering questions because his statements might affect ongoing legal actions involving the commission.
He also said that the memorandum of agreement between IPI and a new investor, which was discussed by lawmakers during the meeting, could be in violation of P.L. 18-56, which provides for an exclusive casino license on Saipan.
“In my opinion, that is an exclusive license. No one can come in and share on that unless P.L. 18-56 is amended,” Cruz said.
Flores, for her part, said the framers of P.L. 18-56 “developed and designed that law to read as such, and people actually voted for that? What a disgrace.”
She added, “It is very disgraceful because if there’s anyone that suffers now is this [Third] Senatorial District [which is Saipan and the Northern Islands]. The framers designed P.L. 18-56 for whatever purpose they did — that is an injustice in itself and they know that.”
Flores said “it’s very evident that the framers of this law, P.L. 18-56, and those who supported it, made it impenetrable,” referring to the exclusivity of IPI’s casino license.
“You can’t penetrate anything at this point. They made it that difficult… I mean that was an injustice,” Flores said.
“For the sake of [the Third Senatorial District], I just have to say that, again, the framers of the P.L. 18-56 and those who voted for that denied my senatorial district a fair and just industry that was supposed to work for this senatorial district. Because all the other senatorial districts rely [on] the monies that come here. And now we are in this position when $70 million plus has not been paid [by IPI] and this Legislature now is tasked to figure out where to find money, not just for this senatorial [district] but also for the other two senatorial districts,” Flores said.
“I think you are out of order,” Cruz said. “Don’t accuse senatorial districts. I didn’t vote for casino.”
“Sir, did I say your name, Sen. Cruz?” Flores asked.
“I am from the Second Senatorial District [Tinian],” Cruz said.
“Did I say your name? I am still talking. I did not yield Sen. Cruz. I did not yield my time,” Flores said.
“We are here to listen and hear the gaming commission … give us [an] update of what is happening,” Cruz said. “We are not here to accuse senatorial districts or who voted for casino. Can you please understand that Rep. Flores — that we are not here to debate over senatorial districts?”
“Did I call your name out?” Flores said.
“You don’t have to call my name out. I am a senator,” Cruz said.
“I understand that,” Flores said.
“The people of Tinian and Rota did not vote for casino. It was the people here in the Legislature. So don’t say senatorial districts,” Cruz said.
At this point, the committee chairs called for a recess.
When they reconvened, Cruz and Flores were no longer in the chamber, and the joint meeting was adjourned shortly afterward.
The other lawmakers who attended the meeting were House Gaming Chair Ralph N. Yumul, Senate REDP Chair Corina Magofna, Senate Vice President Donald Manglona, House Floor Leader Edwin Propst, Vice Speaker Joel Camacho, and Reps. John Paul Sablan, Blas Jonathan Attao and Angelo Camacho.
