\n\t\t\t\tJoseph C. Reyes\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\nReyes was confirmed on a vote of 16 yes votes with four absences, while Santos and Sablan were confirmed with identical 15 yes votes and the lone no vote coming from House Vice Speaker Frank Dela Cruz (Ind-Saipan), who said their confirmation would conflict with the CNMI government\u2019s law against double dipping <\/p>\n
Reyes, a former representative and chairman of the NMI Retirement Fund, said he\u2019s honored and happy to be confirmed.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow it\u2019s time to wait for the swearing in and after that is when the organization begins to charter a course to make the outlay as to how we\u2019re we going to do all of these, given the magnitude of the work ahead of us,\u201d Reyes said, adding it\u2019s \u201cpretty much unheard of\u201d for an island in the Western Pacific to have a $7.1-billion integrated casino resort project.\u201d<\/p>\n
Santos, a former Marianas Public Land Trust board trustee, said the Saipan Casino Commission needs to hire staff and rent an office first before anything else. After that, he said they would need to thoroughly review Public Law 18-56, the Saipan casino law, and then begin \u201ccommunicating with other casino entities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sablan said he, Reyes, and Santos need a lot of help in making sure the CNMI\u2019s newest industry will become a success.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m ready to work and make sure to protect our people and government. We want to make sure to play a clean game here,\u201d said Sablan, who is a former Commonwealth Development Authority director, tax auditor, and worked for the Mariana Islands Housing Authority.<\/p>\n
Acting press secretary Ivan Blanco welcomed the three\u2019s confirmation. \u201cThat\u2019s good news. I\u2019m pretty sure the governor would be pleased and appreciative of the [SNILD\u2019s] approval of his nominees so we can finally get the work going sooner than later.\u201d<\/p>\n
JGO committee chair Rep. Christopher Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan) is relieved that everyone can now tackle the business of regulating the Saipan casino industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe point is Public Law 18-56 has been a law for 90 days. That’s already too long and we haven\u2019t had the commissioners to start putting in place regulations for this mega casino investment. That\u2019s one of the concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n
Senate floor leader Pete Reyes (Ind-Saipan) said he\u2019s been pushing for the confirmation not only of Sablan, Santos, and Reyes but also the original group made up of Santos, former senator Maria Frica T. Pangelinan, and businessman David C. Sablan because the casino law has already been passed for a long time. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to regulate [the casino] so why are we procrastinating in confirming nominees from the governor? The only conclusion of this and I can\u2019t help but think is political. I\u2019m not only frustrated but also agitated that before today, every attempt [to have the nominees confirmed have been blocked]. I\u2019m relieved and now we can regulate this casino. It needed to be regulated from Day 1.\u201d<\/p>\n
Under the Saipan casino law, the Saipan Casino Commission is supposed to come up with regulations and regulate the casino industry, among other things.<\/p>\n
Best Sunshine International Ltd. won the exclusive license to build a casino on Saipan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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