Speaker Eli D. Cabrera said in an interview that the House leadership “is contemplating” to bring back the provision that will require interested investors to pay the CNMI government $10 million upfront.
Cabrera, R-Saipan, said there are investors who are really willing to pay upfront. Requiring such a fee, he added will prove how serious a casino investor is.
Sources said before House Local Bill 17-44 was passed and transmitted to administration, the $10 million license fee “bothered” the governor who also wanted only two licenses to be issued instead of five as earlier proposed by the bill’s movers.
Fitial vetoed the local casino bill anyway saying it was unconstitutional. He urged the Legislature to come up with a new measure that both houses will pass.
In a meeting yesterday morning, the House leadership discussed a number of proposed amendments to the new casino measure. Among them is the restoration of the $10 million license fee requirement, which will supposedly benefit Tinian and Rota.
The draft casino bill that mirrors the vetoed H.L.B. 17-44, initially removes the $10 million license fee requirement but the original proponents of the gambling measure wanted it back.
Under the draft bill, which Rep. Ralph S. Demapan, Covenant-Saipan, has yet to pre-file, Tinian and Rota will each get20 percent of the gaming tax.
In a separate interview yesterday, Rep. Froilan C. Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan, said he does not mind giving Tinian and Rota a portion of the $10 million license fee.
Tenorio also said that if other House leadership members will support the governor’s recommendation to remove the $10 million license fee, he, Tenorio, will insist that three to five license must be issued instead of only two.
Aside from the amendment to require a $10 million license, Tenorio said he will also propose to allot the casino’s business gross revenue tax for the Retirement Fund.
He said the new casino investment on Saipan will also involve other amenities like a new hotel, water parks, restaurants and golf courses. The business gross revenue tax collections from these establishments, he said, should go to the Retirement Fund.
Asked which part of casino revenue will help the restoration of the government’s 80 working hours, Tenorio said the $10 million license fee can take care of that.
