Saipan casino application process moves forward
After litigation hiccups and other issues, the application process for an exclusive integrated casino resort license on Saipan moves forward and Gov. Eloy S. Inos said he’s “hopeful that no further litigation will be needed.” Marianas Stars Entertainment Inc. and Best Sunshine International Ltd. are both in the running for the exclusive license.
Superior Court Associate Judge Wiseman issued an order last week denying an attempt to stop the government from issuing a casino license.
“With Judge Wiseman’s ruling, we are pleased that the process will once again be moving forward. This, along with legislation to address ambiguities in the law, will pave the way to revenues we need for all of us in the Commonwealth,” Inos said.
House floor leader Ralph Demapan’s (Cov-Saipan) bill repealing and reenacting the Saipan casino law will be up for full House voting tomorrow afternoon, but there is no telling whether it will have the votes.
The governor reiterated yesterday a statement he made during his State of the Commonwealth Address.
“As I’ve said, we cannot sue our way to prosperity, so we are hopeful that no further litigation will be needed. This $2 billion opportunity will benefit all of us—retirees, active government employees, the private sector, and all who reside here,” he said.
The two-year advance casino license fee of $30 million is meant to pay retirees’ deferred 25 percent pension and pay the interest on retirement contributions withdrawn by former Retirement Fund members last year.
The four-member Lottery Commission, chaired by Commerce Secretary Sixto Igisomar, will meet again on Tuesday afternoon on Capital Hill.
But Finance Secretary Larrisa Larson told Saipan Tribune yesterday that the commission won’t be making any announcement yet tomorrow whether to grant an exclusive casino license and to whom as lawyers are still reviewing Wiseman’s ruling and will advise the next step.
The commission, in its executive session, will discuss pending litigation. During its public session, it will also discuss video lottery, which is allowed by law since last year but has since been put in the back burner when electronic gaming and Saipan casino also became law. The three major revenue-generating measures seek to help restore retirees’ 25 percent deferred pension and other retirement fund-related obligations, among other things.
Meanwhile, GGRAsia reported during the weekend that Imperial Pacific International Holdings Ltd.—the parent company of Saipan casino applicant Best Sunshine—saw a 14.52-percent rise in shares in Hong Kong on Friday after a legal bid to block it or anyone else from applying for a casino license on Saipan was rejected by a judge. Imperial Pacific is an investor in the profit stream of Macau VIP operator Hengsheng Group.
As the Chinese continue to take over Hong Kong, a lot of manager and families want to come to a US island, work here with less Chinese government headaches and even become US Citizens in the long run. Best Sunshine / Imperial Pacific International Holdings Ltd., have their personal motives for being here as well, it’s not just to make money, but for their families to have a great deal of political power here to get what they want. Will we benefit from it, yes overall, but not without a greater Chinese influence, and part of that influence is not to pay or treat workers as US workers in the mainland are treated. You can see some of these low operational standards in our many Chinese businesses here right now.
How many Green Cards can the $2bill buy with this investment under US law?
The governor reportedly said that he will make sure that the Lottery Commission will have the opportunity to BEG the applicant to allow future PLEADINGS for “ADVANCE” payments in case there is no left over from settling retirement debts…LMBO! Shameless! I say.
But, on another issue, there is a reason why the People’s Republic of China gave Hong Kong another 100 years to maintain their status and presently handles Taiwan with trepidation. Majority of their foreign business dealings are channeled through Hong Kong, and it is awfully scared to piss off Taiwan, because it has a mightier military force.
Notwithstanding the fact that the United States is now indebted to China, I think this is one of their plans to infiltrate the world and take control. Japan once said that it lost in the combat theater, but it will win the world through economic strength. China is gearing up to take on the world the same way, but with military strength right along with it. Just in case. It is the only sure way to topple the United States right off the pedestal of being the world’s most powerful nation. Do you not think? Although, my Chinese friend thinks that China will never be a great and powerful country, because Chinese people are too conniving for their own good. I do not agree. But…it is a good script for a great movie or base for a great novel. Something like what James Clavell would have written had he lived long enough to witness what is presently going on.