‘Of $9.5M IPI paid NMI gov’t, how much is owed SNILD?’
Of the $9.5 million annual license fees paid by Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC and subsequently appropriated for numerous projects on Saipan, how much does the central government owe the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation?
That is the question that Senate President Edith E. DeLeon Guerrero (D-Saipan) raised at the SNILD’s session yesterday, saying she previously asked that same question in prior leadership meetings but has yet to obtain a response.
DeLeon Guerrero said she understands that they just passed a number of House local bills, but she restated her request for SNILD to revisit Saipan Local Law 20-26 where most of these fundings are coming from when they do legislations for reappropriation.
In November 2018, then-governor Ralph DLG Torres signed House Local Bill 20-81, S1, D4, into Saipan Local Law 20-26, which appropriates $9.5 million from IPI’s exclusive gaming annual license fees allotted to Saipan and Northern Islands.
DeLeon Guerrero requested SNILD chair Rep. John Paul P. Sablan (Ind-Saipan) to seek information from Finance Secretary Tracy B. Norita exactly how much the central government owes the SNILD.
“And also…perhaps maybe we could provide more information on what particular projects were being funded prior to reappropriation of existing or current bills that we are addressing and which also passed today and in prior sessions,” DeLeon Guerrero said.
She said this is very important because they need to go back in time and see what prevented the completion of certain projects that were funded under Saipan Local law 20-26.
She said she wants to make sure that community projects are not falling behind, and that they don’t have to be constantly going through reappropriation of legislations and putting those prior projects again in the books.
“So that is my concern, and hopefully, we can get some more updated information regarding this particular funding account,” the Senate president said.
Sablan said he would follow up with Norita.
DeLeon Guerrero later told Saipan Tribune that she has been asking in previous SNILD leadership meetings for an accounting of these funds—which to her understanding the central government had borrowed by from SNILD. She said how much has been paid back is unclear.
The Senate president said they have been re-appropriating funds from this source and from corresponding “business units.”
“The concern I have is to also find out what these business units are…and whether prior funded projects within these business units are affected and if so how/why,” she said.
DeLeon Guerrero said SNILD-funded projects have a significant impact in improving the municipality, hence the need to get their financial inquiry validated so they know as a delegation where they stand with this funding source.
Under Saipan Local Law 20-26, $9.5 million is appropriated for many projects for the Mayor of Saipan, Legislature, five precincts on Saipan, and other agencies.
Senate President Edith E. DeLeon Guerrero
