GOVERNOR Ralph DLG Torres on Tuesday informed the Legislature that the $8 million in annual exclusive casino license fee that Imperial Pacific International paid for its sixth year is now available for appropriation.
In his letter to Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez and Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider, the governor said Finance has identified and certified as available for appropriation the remaining $8 million of the $15 million annual license fee that IPI paid two years ago, before it ceased operations in March 2020 at the onset of the global Covid-19 pandemic.
IPI failed to pay the annual license fee for last year prompting the Commonwealth Casino Commission to take enforcement action against the casino operator.
Of the $8 million available for appropriation, the governor said $6 million is for Saipan, $1 million is for Tinian and $1 million is for Rota.
In accordance with Public Law 21-10, the governor said, the $6 million for Saipan will be allocated as follows:
– $2 million for Sugar Dock construction and repair.
– $1 million for Northern Marianas College.
– $750,000 for Precinct 1.
– $750,000 for Precinct 3.
– $750,000 for Precinct 4.
– $750,000 for Precinct 5.
The governor said he hopes “that these funds will be used for the purposes of enhancing the missions and goals of Northern Marianas College as part of our Commonwealth’s efforts to build our local workforce. I also hope that the funds given to each precinct and senatorial district will be utilized in the best interests of our community by implementing programs and projects that target and address the specific needs of our people.”
