King-Hinds confirms DFS leaving Saipan

02/18/25 - Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds confirmed that Duty Free Saipan Ltd., which operates T Galleria along Beach Road in Garapan and DFS at the Francisco C. Ada-Saipan International Airport, will be closing shop.

In a social media video message to CNMI constituents, the freshman lawmaker said she got a call from DFS making known their intention to close their CNMI operations.

“A few days ago, Duty Free just called and said that they were, you know, they were giving notice that they were officially winding down and closing up shop.”

In a follow-up social media message to Marianas Press, King-Hinds said DFS also formally reached out to Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and the Commonwealth Ports Authority about their decision.

“I’m not at liberty to name who called but it was an authorized representative who relayed that they have formally communicated the notice to the CNMI governor and CPA, the agency who will be detrimentally impacted, by the decision. The decision was not made lightly and one that has been agonizing for DFS given their investments and long ties to the CNMI. At the end of the day, it was a business decision.  They just didn’t have the customers they needed to justify keeping their doors open,” she said.

At the end of the day, she said DFS is a business not a charity organization. 

“And the way some people think they should run that business is to continue to take a loss, operate in the red, continue to support community events with no assurance that the government is doing everything that they can to support their ability to keep their lights on and pay their bills.”

Last month during the Marianas Business Network meeting, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios also alluded to DFS leaving the Northern Marianas.

“We had a conversation with DFS corporate management and we've made an agreement that they're going to drive that initial news. And then we can all come together and jointly talk about it. So, I'll give them the respect that I committed to.”

He went on to say that he talked to DFS top brass in Hong Kong via telephone, but then asked for the media not to break the news until DFS corporate comes out with the closure notice.

“I want you to please understand that we asked for it. We asked them about it and said, ‘give us the time to put things in order before we break.’ And they're going to be the ones that break [the news].”

A T Galleria employee also told Marianas Press that DFS was closing sometime this year during their holiday party last December

This is a developing story.

——-

Story by Mark Rabago