DLNR might evict meat section at Garapan market

The Department of Lands and Natural Resources is still resolving an issue with a meat company’s use of the Garapan Public Market and, if worse comes to worst, may have to forcibly evict the company from the premises.

Marianas Meat Harvesting Group, which currently rents a portion of the public market building, was served two cease-and-desist order from DLNR last October and November due to unauthorized use and lack of an agreement with the CNMI Farmers Cooperative Association as well as the department.

“We would like for the new association members to handle that situation right now. If they don’t do it…we need to step in and do an eviction. No longer cease-and-desist,” DLNR Secretary Richard Seman told Saipan Tribune.

According to Seman, there is no formal arrangement with the meat section, the co-op, and the government.

“As we speak, it is already a violation,” Seman said. “Their existence is based on a sole agreement with the [company] owner and the previous [co-op] president. There is no board meeting that reflected a board discussion and decision, which is also in contrary to their bylaws.”

“In addition to that, if they do discuss it and vote on it, they [will] still need to consult with DLNR as part of our actual agreement because what they’re doing is not being offered to any other interested party, which we know there are people out there interested in using that establishment as well,” Seman added.

However, rent advances have already been made for the meat company’s use of the facility until next year.

Seman said the liabilities and responsibilities of each party have to be clearly spelled out in order for such an operation to occur.

“We need compliance in order for us to be able to sort out the liability and responsibility with regards to at what point does the meat company have full responsibility on what they sell and where does the co-op have their own responsibility pursuant to its agreement with DLNR,” he said.

Seman said he was waiting for the co-op to complete the slate of their board members so that they can address the issue.

“What they need to do is they can terminate the agreement immediately, refund what has not been utilized, as per how many months that’s left which is one year and one month, and renegotiate with the involvement of the DLNR,” Seman said.

He reiterated that he is not opposed to the meat section being at the market but that they have to make sure that all the parties are in compliance.

“It’s not that we don’t want them to exist but we want to make sure that in addition to the co-op and DLNR’s agreement, that DLNR’s agreement with DPL is complied. There are multiple areas that we need to be mindful that we’re not violating,” Seman said.

He took note of the meat company’s defiance of the cease-and-desist letters as they continue to operate at the market.

“What I felt was that despite the two cease-and-desist from me, they ignore me. So it brings into question, are we dealing with the responsible and mindful party or a party that basically doesn’t care?” Seman said. “Why should DLNR even bother entertaining their proposal when they’re not even willing to comply with my cease-and-desist order?”