Commonwealth Casino Commission member Mario Taitano left, confers with Commission Chairman Edward C. Deleon Guerrero during their regular meeting in Gualo Rai last month.
HOUSE Bill 23-107, which would repeal the salaries of the members of the Commonwealth Casino Commission and CNMI Cannabis Commission may encourage bribery, according to a casino commissioner, Mario Taitano.
Authored by Rep. Marissa Flores, H.B. 23-107 would amend the casino law to remove the $65,000 annual salary of casino commissioners, and the $55,000 annual salary of cannabis commissioners.
The bill instead proposes a compensation of not more than $60 for a full day or meeting, but not exceeding $6,000 per year.
According to H.B. 23-107, the salaries of the casino and cannabis commissioners are “disproportionally high” in light of the CNMI’s dire economic situation.
The bill “rectifies the disparity” in compensation between the commissioners and other similarly situated positions in the CNMI government.
In an interview on Monday, Taitano, one of the three remaining members of the five-seat casino commission, said allowing the casino commissioners to receive an annual salary helps maintain their integrity as gaming regulators, and deter them from accepting bribes.
He noted that even if H.B. 23-107 becomes law, it could not be applied retroactively. In other words, it would not affect the current casino commissioners.
The casino commissioners have not been receiving their salaries for more than a couple of years now due to Imperial Pacific International’s failure to pay the $3.15 million regulatory fee since 2020. The amount has now grown to over $17 million. This does not include the $62 million IPI owes the CNMI government in unpaid casino license fees.
IPI, which has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with the District Court for the NMI, said it owes its creditors a total of $165.8 million.
