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Integrated resort our last hope!
My dear people of Saipan: I’m sure many of you have watched the John Gonzales Show on Wednesday night about integrated resorts. Personally, I have learned some interesting information about the concept and I’m now even more convinced that an integrated resort could really be the solution to our economy.
Like many of you, I don’t agree with the way the government passed the casino law; however, it did get us a couple of investors here today, and the concept of IR was actually brought here by one of them. With the $1 million application fee already submitted and the $30 million deposit ready to be released upon the awarding, I don’t think we have too much to lose and all to gain. Also, with all of the commitment that the investor is making, I can’t help but ask: Instead of killing it right away, why don’t we give it a try?
For those who criticize casino but do not offer any other industry to assist our ailing economy, be reminded that in 1987, our government invited the garment industry to come and invest in our islands. This was the beginning of the worst disaster the CNMI ever experienced. Yes, they poured millions of dollars into our economy, but we allowed them to bring in 15,000 nonresident workers, which contributed to the U.S. government taking our dream of self-government.
The garment factories were fined millions of dollars for labor abuses, exploitation and many others. We allowed them to implement a minimum wage in the amount of $2.90 while our minimum wage was $3.05 an hour. They destroyed our reputation and trust by the federal government.
Next, we lost our Japanese investors, which consisted of all the Japanese-owned hotels, golf courses, insurance companies, and others. Then we lost Japan Airlines and Continental Airlines transferred all their staff to either Guam or the United States.
Let me conclude by saying that we lost our reputation and trust with the federal government and we lost our Japanese investors and millions of dollars because of our many failures and so let us protect the only remaining investors (integrated resort), so let us spread the good news and protect the CNMI from further destruction.
Herbert S. Del Rosario
San Antonio, Saipan
