The license of Mary Ann D. Calvo to operate expired on July 4, but the mayor extended it to Sept. 4, 2010.
“This will provide ample time for [lawmakers] to amend the current law pertaining to licensed operations so the future bidders will have longer licensed terms,” Flores said in a letter to Calvo.
The Saipan legislative delegation is considering a local bill that will amend the Saipan Cockfighting Act of 1994.
Considering the state of the CNMI economy, Flores said in his letter that he knows the uncertainty and difficulty faced by an operator should the municipality continues to bid out the cockfight operation annually.
In her reply to the mayor, Calvo said she agreed that the short-term license is inadequate as any return in investment normally takes three years.
“And not to mention the fact that in the cockfight operation there is nearly a five-month loss in revenue during the year due to the molting season,” she said.
During the molting season, the cockfight operation is conducted only once a week, instead of three days a week.
