Garapan market meat section until Nov. only

The meat market at the Garapan Public Market can only operate at the facility until November of this year, according to Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Richard Seman.

“What the Attorney General has done is basically to allow them because we already have an agreement with the [CNMI Farmers Cooperative Association] and DLNR. They can operate up to the November deadline that they have already paid for,” Seman said.

Marianas Meat Harvesting Group was served two cease-and-desist orders from DLNR last October and November due to unauthorized use and lack of proper agreement with the CNMI Farmers Cooperative Association as well as the department.

They only stopped operations in January of this year after being issued a closure order. They were allowed to resume business in February per new guidelines.

“We’re trying to make it legal and make sure everybody is on the right page,” Seman said.

Under the new guideline, proceeds from the rent of the meat section will go directly to the Department of Public Lands instead of the farmers’ association.

Marianas Meat has paid a lease of $500 a month for two years or a total of $12,000 for the use of the building.

“Every proceeds of that must go to Department of Public Lands. It is based on government land and government facility. As a policy from our government, only Public Lands can receive anything that has to do with lease with those facilities,” Seman said.

Seman said DPL will give the association time to be able to give them the rental proceeds paid for by the meat market.

“[Public Lands] secretary Marianne Teregeyo is more than willing, through the Office of the Attorney General, to avail them of the opportunity to repay at the level or length of time that is doable for them,” Seman said.