SAIPAN — Senator Corina L. Magofna is pressing the Department of Public Lands for a written update on the compliance status of the public land lease for Marianas Beach Resort, asking whether the lessee is current on its obligations and how much, if anything, is owed to the people of the CNMI.
In a letter to DPL Secretary Sixto K. Igisomar dated Friday, Magofna, the Senate Vice President and Chairwoman of the Committee on Resources, Economic Development, and Workforce, acknowledged the recovery demands following Super Typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi but said the storms do not pause the department’s duties.
“While we fully recognize the extensive recovery demands following Super Typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi, recovery does not suspend normal fiduciary responsibilities,” Magofna wrote. “As trustee of public lands, your department requires continuous oversight and enforcement of lease terms.”
The letter asks whether the lessee is current on all monetary and non-monetary obligations and in material compliance with development, maintenance and reporting requirements. It requests documentation of any force majeure or relief granted and its expiration, specific milestones for a return to full compliance, and, if any deadlines were missed, waived or modified, the authority and rationale for those actions.
If the lessee is not current on its monetary obligations, Magofna asked the department to answer a question she set in bold: “How much in total is owed to the people of the CNMI to date?” She requested the total principal balance due and the periods it covers, along with itemized penalty fees and itemized interest.
Citing the community’s interest in transparency and the orderly administration of leases, Magofna asked that the response be provided within 15 business days.
