The Northern Marianas Ports Authority has turned down a request from the United States military that it be allowed to conduct parachute operations training on Rota, despite a promise of about 33,000 US dollars in revenue for the local government.
The decision came after the Federal Aviation Administration threatened to cut over 300 million dollars in funding to the CNMI, if the military's proposal was approved.
Our correspondent in the CNMI, Mark Rabago, says the Ports Authority didn't want to jeopardise planned upgrading projects at Rota and other airports.
"Our airports here are in dire need of upgrade and it may have something to do with anything from fixing the runways to fixing the tarmacs, fixing everything that's airport related."
Mark Rabago says it is not clear why the FAA has opposed Rota being used for the paratrooper training.
