By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
IN September last year, the Senate heeded the clamor of concerned local residents and rejected Mariana Eland Corporation’s proposal to lease the 1.4 million-square-meter property previously occupied by Kan Pacific’s Mariana Resort & Spa in Marpi.
In a letter to Senate President Karl King-Nabors and Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez on Jan. 6, 2026, Attorney General Edward Manibusan said his office is now representing the CNMI government and the Department of Public Lands in a lawsuit filed by Mariana Eland in Superior Court.
He said Mariana Eland filed the lawsuit to ask the court to compel DPL to enter a lease agreement on certain terms proposed by Eland in response to the request for proposal, which did not conform to DPL regulations.
To resolve the lawsuit, Manibusan told King-Nabors and Villagomez that DPL and Eland have negotiated lease terms consistent with the revenues offered in Eland’s proposal that satisfy all regulatory requirements.
The AG cited 1 CMC Section 2806‑9(d), which requires the approval of the Legislature in joint session for any lease of more than five hectares of public land for commercial use. He said that because the land interest subject to the proposed lease is over five hectares, Eland’s proposal must be approved by the Legislature in a joint session.
He noted that it was only the Senate, through Senate Resolution 24‑10, that rejected Eland’s lease proposal.
Manibusan informed the Senate president and the House speaker that in a status conference on Dec. 14, 2025, DPL and Eland apprised the Superior Court of the Senate’s rejection. The court noted that there has not been a joint session addressing the lease and ordered both parties to update the court regarding any further legislative developments relevant to the case.
“Accordingly, my understanding is that the Court does not intend to take further action in the litigation until the Legislature addresses the proposed lease in a joint session. A joint session is needed to either approve the lease or formally reject it so the parties can move forward in this litigation,” the AG said.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
