Legislature will take two to four years to update outdated laws

Sen. Sixto K. Igisomar signs his oath of office while CNMI Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja looks on during the 19th CNMI Senate’s first organizational session on Monday at Capital Hill. (Jon Perez)

Sen. Sixto K. Igisomar (R-Saipan) believes updating some of the CNMI’s outdated laws would take both the Senate and House of Representatives two to four years of hard work.

Igisomar, who served as Commerce secretary for two years under former governor Benigo Fitial’s administration, said that some of the laws they need to review are on economic development and the civil and criminal codes.

“Our job as legislators is to work together to enact laws in order to improve the lives of the people that we’re serving. We need to pass laws to protect the lives of the people in line with the CNMI and U.S. Constitutions,” said Igisomar in an interview by Saipan Tribune.

“Improving the people’s lives means finding ways on how to have better health care, provide affordable utilities, enhance our education so students are equipped with the knowledge and skills to compete in the modern world, and equip our law enforcement to provide law and order in our community,” he added.

Igisomar said the practice of the justices writing the legislators annually about these outdated laws is a good way of establishing proper communication in both branches of the government.

He learned about this practice during the Judiciary’s Law and the Freshman Legislator seminar conducted last week for first term members of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, U.S. District Court for the CNMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona, Associate Judges Kenneth L. Govendo, Joseph N. Camacho, Teresa Kim-Tenorio, and Judiciary legal counsel Michael A. Stanker were the resource speakers while Justice John A. Manglona was the moderator.

But further boosting the economy is Igisomar’s main agenda in the 19th CNMI Legislature. “Economic enhancement and development is my concern, being a person who came from the business and commerce sector. The current laws and revenue generation are two areas I want to focus on.”

The Public Utilities, Transportation and Communications committee chairman said the Legislature and Governor’s Office need to work together in this area.

“I became a Commerce secretary when economic development was weak. We lack the resources and my department only had 20 employees after many were retrenched due to austerity measures,” said Igisomar.

“The [then] governor [Fitial] encouraged me and my team to be creative in working with limited resources. We set up a state development plan and regulated the business industry,” he added.

“In regards to revenue generation, we must start planning and find ways to improve it so our government can begin to meet its obligation to the people.”
Igisomar likened the CNMI’s economy to still being 50 feet underwater and the government and Legislature needs to work together to go within snorkeling level.

“And then maybe we could eventually swim up the water. We need to find solutions so our future children won’t have the same problems. There will come a time that we’re going to make some hard decisions but we need to start setting up rules for us to move forward,” said Igisomar.

“Nothing will prevent us to do our own work outside our respective committees. A lot of work needs to be done.”