The land lease deal with South Korea’s Kumho group, which now runs the golf resort and plans to build a hotel in the area, is good for the CNMI, Del Rosario said.
Ramon M. San Nicolas, Vicente C. Aldan, Tars Olopai and Juan M. Deleon Guerrero filed a complaint last year, saying Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and DPL leased 1.6 million square meters of public lands at an unreasonably low price, with terms favorable to the lessee and for a period that exceeds the term allowed by the Constitution.
The court last week dismissed the case.
Del Rosario said signing the land lease with Kumho was the responsible thing to do given the hard times the CNMI is facing now.
“The administration has worked diligently to lure more investments to replace major industries that have been affected by the recent spike of fuel prices, the federal law on minimum wage, and the fatal effects of the global financial meltdown. We should welcome Kumho’s investment as it goes beyond the construction of a world class golftel/resort in Laolao. It’s our anchor investment,” Del Rosario said, adding that major investors who remain here “should be given the red carpet treatment” for their commitment to the CNMI.
