THE Marianas Visitors Authority board of directors on Thursday approved its fiscal year 2023 $2.1 million budget and announced a vacancy in the managing director’s position.
MVA Managing Director Priscilla Iakopo submitted her resignation letter to the MVA board on Oct. 4, saying her resignation will take effect on Nov. 3.
Asked who will be the interim managing director, MVA Chair Viola Alepuyo said: “We don’t have an interim MD.”
She added, “Priscilla’s last day will be Nov. 3rd and then Judy Torres, the deputy MD, will take over until the board makes a decision who to hire for MD.”
The other MVA board members who attended the meeting on Thursday were Ivan Quichocho, Gloria Cavanagh, Chris Nelson, Agida Quitugua, Thomas Liu, and Masaru Sunaga.
Iakopo was not present.
Appointed by the MVA board in May 2019, she resigned after her husband, former Veterans Affairs Executive Officer Stanley Iakopo, submitted his resignation letter to Gov. Ralph DLG Torres for denying Mr. Iakopo’s advance military leave.
An autonomous government entity, MVA’s primary funding source is the hotel occupancy tax collections.
The Marianas Visitors Authority’s board of directors hold an emergency meeting on Oct. 6.
