Inos, who signed Public Law 17-51 last week, told reporters yesterday that the derivative lawsuit measure is now law, “and we will just have to follow the law.”
There are remedies, he added, if there are people who feel they have been “aggrieved” by the statute, “but right now it is the law.”
When asked if he and Gov. Benigno R. Fitial talked about the measure before the governor left the island, Inos said they did have discussions about it.
He and the governor, Inos said, also talked to the people who supported and opposed the derivative action bill.
Fitial now wants the law repealed.
“I actually don’t appreciate it when you folks try to put me in a pit with the governor because we are all entitled to all different opinions but that is just that,” he said, referring to reports that Fitial was “unhappy” over Inos’ signing the bill.
Inos said P.L. 17-51 is “not the best,” but at least it allows retirees to speak out when they feel that they have been harmed in any manner or form.
The law, he added, are for the retirees, the beneficiaries of the CNMI retirement program, which is now in tatters because of the government’s failure to remit its employer contributions.
