Casino commissioners set to fly to Las Vegas this February
Saipan Casino Commission commissioners Juan Sablan, Alvaro Santos, Joseph Reyes, Justin S. Manglona, and the would-be commissioner from Tinian are set to travel to Las Vegas, Nevada, next month to learn first-hand how a casino operates.
“All of us will have to be trained because we have no knowledge about the casino industry,” said Sablan in an interview yesterday afternoon following the commission’s meeting at the Governor’s Office on Capitol Hill.
Sablan added that by that time hopefully a commissioner from Tinian would’ve been appointed and confirmed by the Tinian Legislative Delegation.
“We’ve talked to JP San Nicolas and he said he’s going to appoint a commissioner from Tinian and hopefully he or she will confirmed by the delegation.”
In related news, Sablan said the commission is just about ready to name its executive director. He said the commission received four applications for the job opening and that the four commissioners will make a decision by next week.
He said after the naming of the executive director, the commission will then choose among five applicants for the legal counsel position, this time with the help from the executive director.
“I want the executive director to be part of the process of choosing the legal counsel because they’re going to work together.”
Last month, the commission also adopted its rules and bylaws.
Sablan added that aside from the executive director and legal counsel positions, the commission is also looking at finalizing the renovations at their office, which is located at the former Credit Union building on Capital Hill.
When they’re finally settled in and both the executive director and legal counsel positions filled, Sablan said they would now be really ready to tackle their mandate to regulate the island’s casino industry.
He said they have yet to meet officials of Saipan integrated casino developer, Best Sunshine International, Ltd.
“Not at this point as they were off-island during the holidays. We’re planning to meet with Best Sunshine after we choose the executive director. We will meet with them at their convenient schedule.”
Wait what???!!! Only now you going to learn about casino…what happen when the commissioners approved the license for BS…you didn’t know anything about casino now, so where does this put you? Fly to Vegas? ombre ya…pun hanao ha ya pun gandu…”professional training” means sitting in front of casino slots… learning about casinos
good job in electing our commissioners who know nothing…our future five years and more from now is nothing but BS…not Best Sunshine…but down right cow s**t
Why Vegas? They can all go to the Philippines and learn about Casino operations. They have plenty of money to spend, while the people of the CNMI suffers.
LMAO @ Hafa Talu! Ain’t that the truth.. Psst!… what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!
Sure right there Hafa! What goes on in Vegas stays in Vegas!
Best option is visit a casinos within the Pacific/Asia. Since most likely our market is Pacific Asia. The mainland USA already has Casinos to go to.
Lets see, being on a commission you know nothing about, going to the U.S.to learn how Americans run a casino that will here cater to an Asain market and have no clue where this place or places are going to be located, wow. And the best part is…they all admit how inept they are at it all. This sure sounds like it’ll save Saipan from everything. Meanwhile in Guam, Chinese tourism is up 48% according to the Jan 20th KSPN or KUAM nightly news. After the People spoke (voted) twice not to have a casino our “leaders” go somewhere, come back and cram a Bill down our throats to have one. Then after enough signatures are gathered to let the people decide…..again, what do they do but change the Bill making all those signatures null and void. So what is the best thing to do, of course vote all them back in office. And when a truly valid point is made about The Dear Leaders health the gates of hell open. I for one am glad Gen Patton, Gen MaCarthur, Churchill, Gen Bradley, ADM McRaven and the rest of our heros weren’t sick with a young inexperienced person as second in command. Weather it be with guns or not, we are all fighting for a better more secure life.