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Inos: We’re making some headway on casino project
Gov. Eloy S. Inos yesterday said he’s glad that Saipan has gone this far—closer to having a $2-billion integrated casino resort following the Lottery Commission’s decision to grant a conditional license to Best Sunshine International Ltd.—but admitted that there are still a few more issues to address before he can say that “everything is a go.”
In an interview with Saipan Tribune at the governor’s office on Capital Hill, Inos said there are still areas that need to be worked out such as the casino gaming plan and other things.
“In those negotiations you need to have both parties agree to whatever that’s on the table. But I’m happy and pleased that it has gone this far with the selection and now it’s going to be about the award,” the governor said.
He hopes the award will move things along such as the release of the $30 million that’s being held in escrow and getting the disbursements for the retirees.
“I think we’re making some headway,” Inos said.
As to when the retirees will to start receiving their deferred 25-percent pension, Inos disclosed that in a week or two the administration should be in a better position to make that determination.
“Right now we are talking to the Retirement Fund. They have all the data. We don’t have the data. So we’re trying to figure out what’s the best way, most expeditious and efficient way to get those checks out,” he said.
The Retirement Fund, Inos said, has calculations to do and that the administration acknowledges that.
“Hopefully within the next week or two we should be able to know how things are going to fan out from that point,” he added.
The Lottery Commission on Tuesday unanimously granted a conditional casino license to Best Sunshine International Ltd. The approval is considered “conditional” until the Lottery Commission and Best Sunshine negotiate and come up with a casino development agreement.
Retirees are looking forward to the release of their withheld 25-percent pension since last year, once the $30 million that Best Sunshine deposited is released following a grant of a final casino license.
