Castro was among the three students of Sam McPhetres who attended the third public hearing on House Local Bill 17-44.
They all came to oppose the bill introduced by Rep. Stanley T. Torres, Ind.-Saipan, but after listening to the proponents’ explanation, Castro who said she hates poker arcades in the villages but now she wants to give the casino a chance.
Rep. Joseph M. Palacios, R-Saipan, told her that a casino will pave the way for the transfer of poker arcades from the villages to the casino site.
As long as poker arcades are taken off the villages, it would be fine to allow casino on the island, Castro said.
Of the 12 people who attended the public hearing only Castro and former Commonwealth Ports Authority board member Roman Tudela spoke. Most of them spoke to support the Saipan casino bill.
Tudela neither opposed nor supported the measure. He said he came to hear the pros and cons of the proposal so he can decide.
He asked the proponents how a casino on Saipan can help the CNMI economy.
Palacios in an interview said it puzzles him why only a very few people come to the public hearings.
During the first public hearing held in the House chamber on Tuesday last week, 10 showed up and only one spoke against the casino. At Garapan Elementary School on over the weekend, 12 came and six expressed support while six opposed the casino proposal.
Palacios said the small turnout makes them think that most people may no longer oppose a Saipan casino.
But he believes many people will show up in the final public hearing on Monday next week at the multi-purpose center in Susupe.
There will a public hearing at Kagman Elementary School at 6 p.m. tomorrow.
