Plan will save Rota Resort from closure

The chair of the House Natural Resources Committee yesterday defended a decision by legislators to entertain the appeal for 15-year lease extension from Rota Resort and Country Club, saying it is intended to bail out the company from its current financial troubles.

Rep. Manuel A. Tenorio threw support behind a proposed meeting between the Legislature, the Board of Public Lands and SNM Corporation, the resort’s owner, in an attempt to seek solution on the issue.

“I strongly encourage your personal cooperation and that of your office in helping to resolve the problems surrounding the SNM’s lease so that we can accelerate the approval of the 15-year lease extension,” he said in a letter to Public Lands Chairman Tomas B. Aldan.

The BPL chief had written to Tenorio before a scheduled meeting on Rota last week, urging the committee not to vote on the lease extension in fear it would compromise the government position.

Aldan, who reportedly flew hastily to Rota in an attempt to scuttle the voting, asked lawmakers to defer action until the board has conducted review of the initial 25-year lease granted nearly 10 years ago, including lawsuits facing the resort involving the current agreement.

Obviously stung by the implication of Aldan’s last-minute letter, Tenorio sought to dispel allegations that they are in apparent rush to approve the extension.

The representative said the meeting was not a joint session by the House and the Senate, but a discussion with SNM representatives in a first step on the “lengthy process” of granting the request.

The Division of Public Lands “has always been one of the key witnesses in the process and their recommendation is heavily relied on by members of the Legislature,” Tenorio explained.

Calling the warning made by Aldan in the letter as “disturbing, premature and uncalled for,” the legislator stressed he has contacted public lands officials weeks before the Rota meeting to get their inputs on SNM’s request.

Aldan’ statement “is an affront to the integrity of all members of the Legislature involved in the decision making process and is totally irresponsible on your part,” Tenorio said.

Rota Mayor Benjamin Manglona, he claimed, was also “heavily disturbed and disheartened by the type of message you’re sending to the people of the CNMI and especially the people of Rota.”

Aldan could not be reached for comment on Tenorio’s letter which was dated May 10.