$1.63B for BSI but what about us!
I’m sure the average reader viewed the news of BSI earning 1.63 billion in one month as being great for the CNMI. But I’m sure the people of the CNMI will agree with me that it is more important for the people to know our share of all these millions. The casino commission may have felt that they were doing their job by merely “reporting” what BSI made but for me and others they did not earn their money by just reporting. They are being paid a lot of money and we need them to do the work for us, which is to: 1. Do their work to monitor and confirm for us how much BSI made and not wait for BSI to tell us through the Hong Kong Stock Exchange because the commission is giving us BSI’s numbers not theirs; 2. Where is the formula for determining the average cost of BSI’s daily operations and what kind of in-depth monitoring and investigating is the commission doing to insure these numbers are accurate—simply, does the casino commission’s numbers jive with BSI’s numbers; 3. Finally, the casino commission owes it to the people of the CNMI who pay their salary to tell us how much the CNMI earned from the $1.63 billion in November.
I am not complaining but offering constructive criticism and I do want to thank the commission executive director Edward Deleon Guerrero for sharing BSI’s reported earnings. He also explained that the $1.63 billion was not profits only what was collected. However, if the casino commission truly wants the community to be supportive of the casino and the commission they need to show they are earning their pay by establishing a formula that will allow the commission to determine or estimate how much of BSI’s collections go to expenses and how much is profit and how much the CNMI earned because we don’t know if we are being cheated or not from a report that only states what was taken in which is require for the Business Gross Receipt tax (BGR). So what about the (PSP) the People’s Share of Profits beyond the BGR or do we have to make it a law to get this monthly information.
The people of the CNMI should know every month how much they made from the casino almost to the penny. I am not against the casino but I am for the casino and the governing casino commission being held more accountable and transparent in revealing the full effects of BSI’s operations and not just reporting to us what BSI is telling them. BSI does not work for the people of the CNMI so we need a commission that not only reports BSI’s numbers but the numbers for the people—it is just that simple. The commission members make too much money to only be reporting BSI’s numbers and I’m sure the people of the CNMI have more expectations of the commission than the sharing of BSI’s report, which could be done by a single secretary.
Do we have to wait until the feds tell us we are being cheated, which is the usual outcome with this kind of issues when local governments fail at doing their job? The best thing the casino commission can do at this point is to do the work to tell us how much BSI and the CNMI made to justify your work because I’m sure the commission members will truly be much more appreciated for doing their job.
Ambrose M Bennett
Kagman
Mediocre suggestions? The main take away from Mr. Bennett’s article is that BSI is making 1.6 billion, and the CNMI is receiving nothing. If our island is in a “poor state” as you claim, then you must agree that it is not right for BSI to pay nothing. This is not fair for the many businesses in the CNMI that are paying tax and have been for many years. What differentiates them from these other businesses? Regardless of all the donations made by BSI, the amount they are earning with the 0% gaming tax does not come close to what they have given.
we get nothing..period
we never needed BSI in the first place, our govt screwed us, and this is how they make up for it, by bringin in BSI even after we (the people) voted no (twice). Wake up and smell the coffee(not the money) CNMI, they screwing us again.
Buenas notdsame,
As for many of us, we live below our means and we can make things happen without our government or anyone. But the truth to the matter, our people were and are suffering and we need some kind of economic stimulation. Our lone casino operator in Saipan not the answer to our predicament, but it would at least address some of the issues affecting us as a whole.
Yes, our government fail us dearly and at the same it was blessing in disguise for some of us. In life, people’s suffering translate to other people’s gain and it is a matter of how you play your card. You and I don’t need our government to make ends meet and we all need to find ways to help each other.
The day the CNMI government was formed, we were doomed and our souls had been sold. Look at it on the bright side, we are better off than most of the third world country and Best Sunshine would be a plus for many of our underprivileged household.
Si Yu’us Ma’ase
Just because we have a better life than other places in the world does not justify BSI’s tax break. I agree we are better off than these third world countries. But, imagine if we actually managed our government correctly. By appointing officials who will represent the people and not the people paying them on the side. Imagine how much better off we will be. If you are knowledgeable you would understand that these third world countries that are in horrible living conditions all have a cause. One word can sum it up: Corruption. Exactly what is happening in the CNMI. BSI is just paying politicians to look away, causing the people to suffer.
im poor and i go to work everyday living paycheck to paycheck, but thats reality fyi. Life is what u make of it, not jus sit around and pray for a miracle. i understand we need help, but the people here cant even help themselves. take food stamp for example, how many family generations live off of food stamps and for how long.one parent receives food stamp, then their kids(wen they become of age)and the cycle continues it doesnt stop. Theres no want to get a job for these guys, cuz they like being hand fed. another problem is work ethic(none whatsoever)
the analogy of using poor people with what best sunshine has supposedly brought into the CNMI is being ignorant of the fact that it has done damage to our governments credibility. If things were done right in the beginning the whole community will be up in arms to support BSI, but taking advantage of our small island when we are at our lowest in terms of economic stability our government leaders’ have failed to ensure that our people are informed and are given a chance to contribute to society. But without a shared collaborative plan for sustainability that involves the whole community, Believe or not, BSI is a failed plan just like the garment industry.