MPLT Board Chairman Alvaro A. Santos said the Fund’s counter proposal has terms that “are not palatable to us.”
These include MPLT paying $500,000 for the building’s insurance on top of the cost of fuel for the generator.
“It will be a lot more than we expected,” Santos said.
MPLT was asking for a 36-month lease but the Fund wanted a yearly lease, he added.
“They would also impose a 10 percent increase on the lease every year,” he said.
MPLT would end up paying from $2 to $3 or even more per square foot if they add up all the costs.
“We just feel it is unreasonable,” Santos said.
In the meantime, MPLT will have to extend its stay at the CNMI Homeland Security office on Anatahan Drive on Capital Hill.
“We are going to request [Homeland Security] to give us until the end of December. There is no way that we can move to anywhere right now,” Santos said, adding that they are still looking for office space.
MPLT moved to the former Commonwealth Election Commission office on Capital Hill when CEC decided to relocate in Susupe.
MPLT had been using the former CEC office rent-free but was recently advised that the CNMI Homeland Security would be taking over the office.
