Monday, October 30, 2006

Some would agree that certain types of gambling activities on Guam is part
of the local culture. Also, during village fiestas gambling activities are
allowed, but has to go through an approval process, just like this weekend's
Sinajana fiesta. But what some may find sort of ironic is that the
vice-mayor of the central island village is part of the group that is in
opposition of Proposal "B", the initiative to allow the use of slot machines
at the Guam Greyhound Raceway Park. The Municipal Planning Council granted
approval for Sinajana to set up certain types of gambling activities,
cockfighting and card games during this weekend's fiesta. But what may be
viewed as ironic is that the village Vice-Mayor Robert Hoffman is also a
member of a group that is in opposition of Prop "B", the initiative that
allows slot machines. "I can understand why it would seem it's almost
ironic," he admitted. "The difference is that the proposal and the gambling
that exists here? There are so many different factors. The ones who are
running it here are Sinajana people. "I had a great big debate with the
Municipal Planning Council to understand this side and that side and saying
that difference is 'this one is a weekend, a few hours', like a family get
together and decided to sit down and play cards, gambling, we'll sit down
and play 21. I know that there is an entertainment portion of it and
gambling side to it, but my biggest objection to Prop "B" is the way its
written, so many unanswered things." Sinajana mayor Roque Blas confirmed
that he doesn't support Prop "B". But if Hoffmann and Blas are against the
initiative, and since they are sort of in a position of village authority
with what takes place in Sinajana, wouldn't they have some say of what may
or may not take place in the village? "Can we say no? We have a Municipal
Planning Council that does that," Hoffmann said. "We meet with them
regularly and it's them who really decide that. It's not just a council made
up of Catholics, or people who are pro or anti anything so it really gives
us a really broad objective view."

Mayor Blas added, "It's a little bit beyond my control. Because this has
always been one of the culture things that eventually, I guess, if it ever
comes to an initiative then it can stop."

While Hofmann and Blas feel that gambling activities during fiestas and
Proposal "B" are completely different animals, both venues are expected to
benefit the community. Said the mayor, "We take some of that and we give it
towards the kids to even host their games and even towards their uniforms
for any kind of sports activities that they get involved into which takes
some of that cost off of our government coffers because our funding is very
limited right now."