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Kan Pacific is part of our family
A letter to our elected leaders and to the people of our Commonwealth:
I am very much disappointed that we are not sincere in our intention to continue to support and encourage our foreign investors who are doing business on our islands. Investors who have chosen to make our islands their home. We forget to remember over time their contributions and their positive impact to our economy, their unnoticed sacrifices to learn and adapt to our island ways, our culture, so that they may become part of our island community.
Thirty-seven years ago, Kan Pacific Saipan, Ltd. decided to set up business on Saipan. They chose to venture in an 18-hole golf course known as Mariana Country Club, a hotel and spa and entertainment for small children and their families. For all these 37 years, Kan Pacific has been a vital contributor to our island economy. The time they have spent and lived on our island basically and culturally qualifies them as family to the indigenous people of our Commonwealth.
It is understood and stated in our Commonwealth state law that after the first 40 years of land lease with the CNMI government with an investor, the government may choose to renew the lease for another 40 years with the same investor or may choose to lease the land to another investor. In the case of Kan Pacific, considering its dedication and commitment to invest, develop, and build all the structures, hotel, a golf resort, a spa, and a Go-kart circuit for the enjoyment of everyone, the young and the not-so-young, all of these 37 years it spent plus the tax dollars in our Commonwealth coffers and we cannot find it in our hearts to grant Kan Pacific a new 40-year lease and to continue to expand and contribute to our economy? Grant Kan Pacific an exemption from the request for proposal policy with the Department of Public Lands. That is the least we can give them as our token of appreciation for contributing to our CNMI economy for 37 years.
I call on all our elected leaders to join me and grant this exemption, the RFP, to Kan Pacific Saipan Ltd.
Lorenzo DlGuerrero
via email
