NMASA to still pursue Oleai complex takeover

Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association remains firm on its decision to take over the maintenance and management of the Oleai Sports Complex and its facilities.

During the group’s monthly meeting last week, NMASA president Michael White reported that the board has been very active the past few months, taking the necessary steps to push for the takeover. White said they had requested a meeting with Gov. Benigno R. Fitial to discuss the takeover issues and had also secured a copy of a contract between the Korea-based LG Twins and the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.

DCCA cited the contract with LG Twins as one of the reasons to rescind the three-party memorandum of understanding that gave Northern Marianas Athletics the power to operate and manage the track and field facility and three other venues inside the complex. NMA is a member of NMASA and the latter was also a signatory of the MOU signed in April last year. NMA’s takeover of the track facility and two others was the first big step towards NMASA’s goal of managing the complex.

DCCA in an earlier letter to NMASA and NMA said it nullified the MOU because the agreement conflicts with the NMHC block grant condition and the contract between the government agency and the visiting Korean professional baseball team.

Though the MOU cancellation was not illegal, as section 20 of the agreement stated any party can terminate the deal with or without cause, NMASA upon review of the deal does not see any conflict with the contract if NMA will be allowed to operate the mentioned facilities. The agreement only states that LG Twin can use the facilities inside the complex from to November to February and there were no cash exchanges between the parties. Instead of paying usage fees, LG Twins is credited for the improvement they have done in the facilities.

White also reported during the NMASA meeting that only DCCA and LG Twins signed the contract and the Attorney General Office never approved the deal. NMASA believed the deal was not a government contract.

After getting a copy of the deal, NMASA plans to communicate with DCCA anew and other concerned parties and find ways to accomplish its goal. Saipan Tribune emailed DCCA secretary Melvin Faisao to request for comments on this story, but has yet to respond at press time.

NMASA has a say on the maintenance and operation of the facilities at the Oleai Sports Complex as stated in PL No. 4-66 approved by then Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio during the 4th Legislature in 1984. However, for more than 20 years, the Division of Sports and Recreation, which is under DCCA, has been in charge of the complex. DSR operates the complex through funds DCCA gets from the government and usage fees, while NMASA draws its own funding from membership fees. NMASA is hoping to secure funding from the government to maintain the complex.