By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

THE administration wants to move government offices to Susupe and reserve Capital Hill for real estate developments such as hotels and condominium, Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said yesterday.
Capital Hill, he said, is an ideal location because it provides a panoramic view of the Saipan Lagoon.
The administration’s plan is to build a new Capitol in Susupe which will involve the dismantling of the multi-purpose center.
“The proposed new building will house the majority, if not all, CNMI government offices, especially the executive branch,” Reyes said.
Federal capital improvement project money or a low-interest loan are among the possible funding sources for the project, he said.
According to Reyes, the construction’s completion deadline is Jan. 2008 and the projected cost is about $5 million.
Last week, engineers and executives of project developers Prime Asia International Corp. and Shenyang International Corp. presented the architectural design for the proposed Capitol to Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and other administration officials.
“(Finance Secretary) Eloy Inos is taking care of this (project) and he has a lot more information about the A&E of the new Capitol,” Reyes said.
This Friday, he added, a group of investors from California is scheduled to meet with the governor and make presentations on “potential projects” involving real estate development on Saipan.