Casino Commission appointees to face scrutiny

Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation chair Rep. Ray Tebuteb (Ind-Saipan) said yesterday he will create an ad-hoc committee to review and recommend to the full delegation either confirmation or rejection of Gov. Eloy S. Inos’ appointees to the regulatory Commonwealth Casino Commission.

The Casino Commission is tasked to come up with regulations governing the casino industry, among other things, following the Lottery Commission’s granting of an exclusive casino license to Best Sunshine International Ltd. to develop a $3.14 billion integrated resort.

Tebuteb said the nominees representing Saipan will face careful scrutiny from the ad-hoc committee and the delegation as a whole to ensure that their qualifications and background comply with the casino law.

Inos reappointed former Marianas Public Land Trust board trustee Alvaro A. Santos on Aug. 15. Santos also previously served as Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. chief financial officer.

The governor withdrew Santos’ previous appointment when it became apparent that the Saipan legislative delegation couldn’t act on the nomination within a 90-day period. With the Aug. 15 re-appointment, Saipan lawmakers have until mid-November to reject or confirm such nomination.

Tebuteb said yesterday it must be noted that the Senate once rejected Santos’ reappointment to the MPLT board over financial and policy decision issues.

The governor also nominated on Aug. 15 former representative Joseph C. Reyes to serve on the Casino Commission. Reyes is a former chairman of the Republican Party.

“So far, we have received the documents supporting the reappointment of Mr. Santos,” Tebuteb said, referring to his statement of financial interest, police clearance and drug test receipt, among other things.

Santos’ and Reyes’ appointments require the confirmation of the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation.

The mayors of Rota and Tinian also have to recommend appointees representing their islands.

Tebuteb said a provision in the casino law pertaining to qualifications of Casino Commission members “concerns” him.

The law requires commission members to, among other things, hold a bachelor’s degree in any field of study from a postsecondary educational institution accredited in the U.S. “or” must have at least five years work experience in the following areas:  business management, government management or financial management.

“The five-year work experience in business management, if the nominee does not have a bachelor’s degree, could only be an experience managing a mom-and-pop store. That, to me, circumvents the required qualifications. I do not have anything against any mom-and-pop store, but we are talking about qualifications for a commissioner that will regulate a casino industry with $3.14-billion investment,” Tebuteb said.