Lawmakers OK zoning law change for Best Sunshine

Lawmakers approved a proposed amendment on a zoning law that would allow Best Sunshine International, Ltd. to establish a temporary casino in Garapan.

After a four-hour session on Capital Hill yesterday, lawmakers voted to allow the temporary “live” training facility—essentially a casino—to be set up at the T Galleria.

One amendment now allows Best Sunshine to set up the casino within 200 feet of certain establishments such as playgrounds, parks, churches, and other establishments—instead of 300 feet as specified in Saipan Local Law 18-05, the “original” zoning law.

The former DFS Galleria, where the temporary casino will be housed, is near a playground and a basketball court.

Senate Local Bill 19-03 was approved by the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation’s Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations on Monday and was discussed the day after at a special SNILD session on Tuesday.

It will now be transmitted to the Governor’s Office for signing.

‘Deep pockets’
While discussions early on showed the dividing line between the minority and majority blocs of the delegation—which is the biggest legislative delegation in the CNMI with 21 members—the eventual vote showed 16 members supporting the amendment and four members voting against it.

One member was absent.

Rep. Edmund Villagomez (Ind-Saipan), a member of the minority, cited the effort of the supporters of the proposed amendment to rush the proposed legislation.

Rep. Edwin K. Propst (Ind-Saipan), a fellow minority bloc member, said it seems lawmakers are “bending backwards” to the whims of the casino license holder on the proposed amendment.

The questions were quickly answered by Sen. Arnold Palacios (R-Saipan), the author of SLB 19-03, who said the proposal is simply to amend the zoning law so that the casino license holder can move forward.

The discussions soon escalated after Villagomez said “deep pockets can buy legislation,” while mentioning the trip that Rep. Rafael S. Demapan (R-Saipan) apparently took during the time that the casino law was being deliberated in the 18th Legislature.

When recognized, Rep. Joseph Lee Pan Guerrero (R-Saipan) immediately came to Demapan’s defense.

“I take exception to what our colleague said,” Guerrero said, adding that the Legislature should focus on where to source funds for other projects instead of debating on the zoning law amendment.

Palacios essentially echoed Guerrero’s sentiments, saying he didn’t appreciate Villagomez’s comments, saying that he “does not give a damn if Best Sunshine has deep pockets.”

Villagomez, however, clarified that he did not mean to say that the pockets of some lawmakers are being lined with money, that what he meant was that Best Sunshine has the funds so that it can give more to the community.

Move forward
It is now expected that SLB 19-03 will be signed into law.

Palacios said the bill will be transmitted to the Office of the Governor a day after the delegation approved the bill.

Rep. John Paul Sablan (R-Saipan), who chairs the delegation, said he was able to maintain the session’s order despite the heated exchange.

“These things do happen,” Sablan said, after the session adjourned.

One of the lawyers of Best Sunshine, Viola Alepuyo, who was in the gallery to observe the proceedings, said the development is “good news for the community.”