No to Saipan casino, yes to Article 12 abolition

A survey conducted by the Saipan Chamber of Commerce among its members showed that most survey participants reject a proposal to legalize casino gaming on Saipan, while most support the abolition of Article 12 of the CNMI Constitution, which restricts land ownership to persons of Northern Marianas descent.

These were two issues that are being discussed and proposed in the Legislature.

But of the 150 Chamber members, only 45 or a little less than a third responded to the two questions.

In a statement, the Chamber quoted its board of directors as saying that the poll does not represent a majority of the Chamber membership, “but does indicate the opinion of those that chose to respond to the secure and anonymous survey polling system.”

These questions were: (1) Are you in favor of legalized casino gambling on the island of Saipan, CNMI? and (2) Are you in favor of abolishing Article 12 of the CNMI Constitution, allowing for the sale of privately owned property?

Of the 45 respondents, 60 percent or 27 Chamber members voted against casino gaming on Saipan, while 40 percent or 18 were in favor of it.

About 75.5 percent of the 45 respondents or 34 of the Chamber members were in favor of abolishing Article 12, while 24 percent or 11 were not in favor of abolishing it.

The Chamber survey was conducted through surveymonkey.com, and was initiated as a way for Chamber leadership to respond to requests by lawmakers on the issues once Chamber membership opinion was assessed.

The Chamber has received requests from the House of Representatives to comment on casino gaming, and from both the House and Senate concerning a constitutional amendment to vote to continue or repeal Article 12.

House Local Bill 17-44, which legalizes casino gaming on Saipan, was passed by the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation and is awaiting action by the governor.

When asked for comment on the results of the Chamber survey, Rep. Stanley Torres (Ind-Saipan), author of HLB 17-44, said “the Chamber is not feeling the suffering” of the people during these tough economic times.

“Screw them,” Torres said.

Acting governor Eloy S. Inos, in a separate interview, said the governor has until early October to act on Torres’ local casino bill.

Northern Marianas College students under the Current Issues class of Sam McPhetres have also tentatively set a Nov. 4 date for a survey among registered voters on their views about legalizing casino gaming on Saipan. The Senate, which killed a House bill legalizing casino on Saipan, wants the decision to rest with voters but because a Senate proposal to hold a special election on the issue has yet to get the House’s nod, senators sought the help of NMC for a survey.

HLB 17-7, meanwhile, has just been introduced by House minority leader Joseph Deleon Guerrero (R-Saipan). It seeks to repeal Article 12.

Another Senate legislative initiative-SLI 17-10-is pending, which also asks people to vote to continue, or repeal, Article 12.