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Mayor’s Office may allow cockpit in other areas
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Posted on Jan 13 2009
The Saipan Mayor’s Office may allow the establishment of cockfighting arenas in other areas on Saipan but it cannot issue a permit to another operator.
This is because the law can only allow a single operator for any form of gambling on Saipan, Mayor Juan B. Tudela said.
For instance, he said that only one Bingo operator is allowed; the same holds true for Batu.
Batu is a traditional sport on Saipan that has become a form of gambling for some people.
Reacting to a suggestion by Taotao Tano CNMI Inc. president Greg Cruz that Tudela consult with the Department of Public Lands to designate a public land area for such an arena, the mayor said he is not in a position to designate such a place.
He said that issue is another agency’s responsibility.
He also said it is not the duty of his office to monitor cockfight operations.
Cruz said that Tudela continues to complain about illegal cockfighting incidents in the community but has not done much to truly rectify the problem.
Tudela said his only task is to appoint board members and it is the responsibility of the licensed cockfight operator to go against those operating illegally.
Tudela explained that the recent discovery of such illegal activities was reported to him and he said he has not even seen the video footages.
He said he was just ascertaining the reports of the presence of those illegal cockfighting activities.
Tudela also reiterated that he would not disclose the names of government officials who were seen joining those activities.
Cruz, in a letter to Tudela, said he believes that the individuals who continue to illegally engage in such activities will be more than happy to assist in the construction and the making of rules and regulations to prevent these illegal activities within the community.
“We do not condone such illegal cockfighting in our community but we offer solutions preventing continued illegal activities,” Cruz wrote.
He said revenues could be generated to benefit both the government and the taxpayers.
