Northern Islands Mayor Valentin Taisakan has expressed his support for a proposal to legalize casino gambling on Saipan.
Taisakan, in a letter to the Saipan Casino Task Force, said the casino initiative should be enacted because of its potential economic benefits.
“The Saipan Casino Act can, and will, improve, and better the economic situation of the Commonwealth, benefiting all the people living here, including business and government operations and services,” Taisakan told Rep. Ramon Tebuteb, chairman of the casino task force.
According to the casino initiative proposed by the CNMI Indigenous Entrepreneurs Inc., all tax and fee revenues collected from Saipan casinos could be used for projects benefiting Saipan and the Northern Islands only.
However, all people of Northern Marianas descent-whether they are from Saipan, Tinian and Rota-may be part of an investment corporation that would own the sole, perpetual license to contract with casino operators. Income earned from the casino management contracts will be distributed to NMD shareholders in the form of dividends.
Expressing his approval of this provision, Taisakan said, “When our people exercised their right to self-determination by approving the Covenant and the Northern Marianas Constitution, they did so, as a people of the Northern Marianas descent, to protect the heritage and political rights to realizing their dream of being self-sufficient. I am happy that this proposed act will make that dream a reality. It will for the first time in our history that Chamorro and Carolinian of Northern Marianas descent-rich or poor-can invest equally in a corporation that will belong to them, and one that offers hope for a better way of life and a lifetime of economic stability.” (Agnes E. Donato)
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