Arnold I. Palacios
(Office of the Governor) — Gov. Arnold I. Palacios on Thursday addressed concerns raised by Senate Vice President Karl King-Nabors regarding Executive Order 2025-002, which transfers the casino regulatory duties from the Commonwealth Casino Commission to the Commonwealth Lottery Commission.
The governor emphasized that his EO is fully authorized under the CNMI Constitution.
While King-Nabors referenced the U.S. Constitution, it is important to understand that the CNMI government operates under its own constitution, which clearly grants the governor authority to reorganize government agencies as needed to improve efficiency, Palacios said.
Specifically, he added, Article III, Section 15 of the CNMI Constitution empowers the governor to “make changes in the allocation of offices, agencies, and instrumentalities and in their functions and duties that are necessary for efficient administration.”
Executive Order 2025-002 does exactly this by merging overlapping functions to reduce waste and streamline government operations, Palacios said.
He also highlighted the established constitutional process that allows the Legislature 60 days to review the EO — either approving, modifying, or rejecting it.
“This process reflects our government’s system of checks and balances working as intended,” the governor said. “Senator King-Nabors has every right to voice his opposition, just as I have the constitutional right to issue this order.”
Regarding the termination of the four casino commissioners, Palacios clarified that their terms ended because the casino commission no longer holds any statutory responsibilities. Without assigned duties, the commissioners no longer have legal obligations under Article III, Section 21 of the Constitution, he added.
The governor called for respectful and constructive discussions among all branches of government as the CNMI faces fiscal challenges. “Our focus must remain on delivering essential public services efficiently and responsibly,” he said. “I encourage all legislators to review our Constitution carefully before making claims about improper or unlawful actions.”
He reaffirmed his commitment to working with lawmakers and the community to ensure the government serves the people effectively during these challenging times.
