In an interview yesterday, Tenorio said while he waits for the response of the Retirement Fund to his inquiry, he will also get an opinion from OPA so that the House leadership can take action right away.
Tenorio, a proponent of casino legalization on Saipan, said it is not clear to him whether Tinian gaming employees are part of the CNMI government.
It is possible also that other Tinian municipal employees should not benefit from the Fund, he added.
Variety tried to contact gaming commission acting chairman Ignacio Quichocho, but one of his staffers said he was too busy to be interviewed.
Quichocho had not returned this reporter’s call as of press time last night.
Tenorio said only the people of Tinian and not the entire CNMI voted for the casino operation there.
The Retirement Fund was established for the people of the entire commonwealth and is supposed to benefit those working for the CNMI government, he added.
He wonders why the Retirement Fund should benefit those working “for something that not all the CNMI people voted for.”
In his letter to the Retirement Fund, Tenorio wants to know if the employees of the Tinian gaming commission are eligible for retirement benefits.
He said he understands that these personnel are not employees of the CNMI government and thus should not be members of the Fund.
Tenorio noted that the Tinian gaming commission is a local government agency of a “separate political subdivision,” and is not part of the commonwealth government.
He insisted that only the employees of the commonwealth government can participate in the CNMI retirement program.
The Tinian municipal government and the Retirement Fund recently signed a settlement agreement that will require the island to pay its obligations to the Fund, which will then allow qualified municipal employees, including gaming commissioners, to retire and collect their benefits.
