25 Mar 2014

CNMI's Inos signs Saipan casino bill into law

2:50 pm on 25 March 2014

Casino operations are now in line for all the three main islands of the Northern Marianas after the governor signed the Saipan Casino Bill into law.

Governor Eloy Inos announced the signing of the controversial measure at a Republican Party kickoff rally.

With the bill's signing, he assured retirees that their 25 percent pension cut will be restored within 90 days, drawing cheers and applause from the crowd of hundreds.

Mr Inos added that a bill amending the new law will be introduced as early as this week to address concerns about some problematic sections of the new statute.

But the 25 percent pension cut's restoration, along with other Retirement Fund obligations, will still depend on whether a casino investor pays a one million US dollar non-refundable application.

It will also depend on an investor paying 30 million dollars in partial exclusive casino license fees.