THE House Gaming Committee on Friday agreed to issue a subpoena to a former Development Plan Advisory Committee consultant, James Chua, so he can answer questions regarding a report on the viability of a casino industry on Saipan.
Chua, who owns supermarkets on island, submitted to Gov. Ralph DLG Torres a report on the series of events in relation to the construction of Imperial Pacific International in Garapan.
Although its duty is primarily advisory in nature, DPAC’s review and comments about IPI are to be considered and respected by the casino operator and had to be considered the CNMI government, according to Joint Senate Resolution 22-1 introduced by Sens. Paul A. Manglona and Edith Deleon Guerrero.
They, too, want DPAC to report to the Legislature on the status of the Saipan casino industry.
The House Gaming Committee issued Chua a subpoena duces tecum to submit documents pertaining to the DPAC report.
During its meeting in the House chamber on Friday, the House Gaming Committee, chaired by Rep. Edwin Propst, said they have received documents from Chua, but much of the information in the documents were redacted by the governor’s legal counsel, Gil Birnbrich.
At this point, the committee’s vice chair, Rep. Tina Sablan, moved to subpoena Chua. The motion was carried, and the committee said it will send Chua the subpoena depending on the availability of the House chamber and the schedules of the committee members.
Created by the casino license agreement, DPAC is tasked to, among other things, “review and advise on the design for the integrated resorts and the initial gaming facility, assist in the development of the respective implementation schedules, and track implementation.”
House Gaming Committee Vice Chair Tina Sablan speaks during a meeting on Friday.
