Support Tinian, Rota casino industry

First I want to congratulate commissioners Ike K. Quichocho and Mike H. San Nicolas on their recent confirmation to the Tinian casino gaming control commission. Unquestionably these two gentlemen are highly qualified to serve as commissioners, and they can only add to the strength of the three veteran commissioners under the leadership of the honorable chairman Francisco M. Borja, in order to revitalize Tinian’s economy. Tinian, like Rota now has a fully functioning gaming Commission as envisioned and voted for by the people of each senatorial district.

The honorable Mayor Jose P. San Nicolas continues to impress me with his business acumen. Mayor San Nicolas must be commended for his vision for Tinian’s economic future and his commitment to obey the laws of the CNMI to fill the vacant positions as mandated by the Revised Tinian Casino Gaming Control Act of 1989. I have no doubt that Mayor San Nicolas has already taken into consideration the cost of the new commissioners, but more importantly, I have no doubt that Mayor San Nicolas has already calculated he benefits of a fully functioning gaming commission, and that the benefits for the people of Tinian and the CNMI far outweigh the additional cost to fund the new commissioners’ salaries. In short, we need to spend money in order to make more money.

I believe that the elected leaders and the people of Tinian and Rota must be commended for their vision and understanding of the importance of a fully functioning gaming commission. Just as the 12th Rota Municipal Council did, the 12th Tinian Municipal Council diligently, and pursuant to law, investigated the mayor’s appointments, solicited public comments, and deliberated seriously and responsibly. As the president of the Association of Northern Mariana Islands Municipal Councils, I commend the Municipal Councils for a job well done!

Second, it is no longer a secret that Tinian and Rota’s casino industry is a CNMI industry. Therefore, we, the people of the CNMI, should support the casino industry on Tinian and Rota, because when Tinian and Rota make money, the CNMI makes more. Let us have a united Commonwealth, and spread love, joy, peace, and friendship throughout our beautiful islands, so that we and our guests and visitors may live in harmony.