IMPERIAL Pacific International’s willingness to “spill the beans” will benefit the people of the Commonwealth, according to Sen. Paul A. Manglona.
Ray Yumul earlier said that IPI was now willing to “spill the beans,” and that the Commonwealth Casino Commission should “investigate the political influence exerted by local politicians to coerce from IPI sweetheart contracts, land leases and interesting contributions.”
However, Yumul resigned as IPI’s chief executive officer effective Tuesday, Feb. 1.
In a letter, Manglona told Yumul that his statement “brings good news to the CNMI.”
Manglona said “as an advocate of transparency in the government,” he “welcomes any and all information IPI is able to provide us with, especially regarding the Community Benefit Fund.”
Under the casino license agreement, IPI shall annually contribute to the CNMI $20 million to be used for community benefit programs.
These monies are not deposited into the general fund and, pursuant to Section 16 of the agreement, the governor has control over the use of the funds as his consultation is required for the disbursement of any money to community benefit programs.
Manglona said the intended uses of the Community Benefit Fund monies are for programs, such as education, scholarships, infrastructure, healthcare, and employee retirement benefits.
He said since the issuance of IPI’s exclusive casino license, he has been requesting an audit of the use and expenditures of the Community Benefit Fund or an official report on disbursement, if any.
Pursuant to the agreement, IPI should have available or deposited in the Community Benefit Fund a total of $60 million as of Oct. 1, 2020, which was supposed to include the 2018, 2019 and 2020 contributions.
To date, Manglona said the Legislature was informed that only approximately $3 million was paid by IPI leaving an unpaid balance of $57 million.
“We have not received any information or report from IPI, the Governor, or the Office of Public Auditor regarding the exact amount and all disbursements of funds that [have] been paid to the Community Benefit Fund. The CNMI, as a whole, will benefit tremendously [from] the ‘beans’ that IPI will provide,” Manglona said.
He “respectfully asks” that IPI work in coordination with the appropriate government agencies in providing information.
“We are all being pressured by members of the public to do something about the numerous allegations of misuse of public funds and corruption in our government. IPI’s information provided to our government investigators will only result in improved government transparency and greater public confidence in our government’s process of coming up with a recommendation for the casino project that [is] justifiable and, more importantly, will be of benefit to the people of the Commonwealth,” Manglona said.
Paul A. Manglona
