A lose-lose situation

The people of Saipan are—to paraphrase Abe Lincoln—engaged in a small civil war: that whether a group of lawmakers can railroad a bill through the House and Senate, in violation of the Open Government Act, and in secret, against the wishes of its people, in order to bring a casino to Saipan. The lawmakers’ behavior was not only shameless but reckless.

It was reckless because there is likely to be a new anti-casino referendum on the ballot next November, and, by then, one of the investors may have already paid a whopping $30 million for the chance to build the casino.

If the referendum passes (as it has in the past) the investor will be caught short. The $30 million will have been spent, and the unfortunate investor will have to stand in a long line of creditors the CNMI government owes, behind CUC and the others. Our government owes millions, and to many. This is deplorable.

What is also deplorable is that it is highly unlikely that the governor, the legislators, or the Lottery Commission ever mentioned the referendum to the investor: that his company could easily lose $30 million.

Still, I hope the referendum becomes reality.

The casino was always an ill-considered idea. Its lousiness was magnified by the way the bill was rushed through, signed after hours, and was a done deal without one word of public input. This act was a slap in the face to each of us. It ought not to have been done that way. It ought not to have been done at all.

The elected officials on Capital Hill do not care about their solemn oaths, or the people here, and, sadly, we are stuck with them.

But we are not yet stuck with the casino.

In 1979 the voters organized, signed the petitions and the referendum worked: the casino bill was quashed. There is precedent for such an action, and now we must do it again.

If the petition for the referendum comes your way, sign it. Your signature will do three important things. First, it will tell the government that we do not approve of their conduct. Second, it will tell the government that we do not want a casino on Saipan. Third, it will affirm the power of the people of the commonwealth.

If you want to “take your island back” you have to stand up and write your name on the petition. Be sure you are a registered voter. If you can do that, maybe we can stop this nonsense.

Russ Mason
Akgak, Saipan