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‘Give NMI economy a chance to expand’
Rep. Joseph Leepan T. Guerrero (R-Saipan) hopes the federal government would give the CNMI the chance to further grow its economy on its own so it could become self-sustaining and not dependent on federal funds.
One way to achieve this is to make the Commonwealth part of the decision-making process on labor and immigration issues, Guerrero said.
That’s why Guerrero advocates extending the CNMI-Only Transitional Nonimmigrant visa program beyond the Dec. 31, 2019, termination date.
Guerrero, who chairs the House Commerce and Tourism Committee, said the ongoing casino-resort development and other future projects in the CNMI would require an adequate number of workers, which is currently not available locally.
“For the moment the CNMI is dependent on the CW program and we should be allowed to develop so that we become self-sustaining in developing our economy with our tourism and casino industry.”
Guerrero said the CNMI is already on track to recovery. “We all must live within our own means and that is what the current administration is trying to illustrate. Give the CNMI what it wants and rest assured that it would be self-sustaining.”
“It is important that the Trump administration consider the needs of our tourism industry that needs to grow to be competitive with developing regions that are far more advanced and aggressive.”
Guerrero said moves by some businesses to hire locals and U.S. citizens would have minimal impact on the rising labor demand, especially if hotels and other businesses that are being developed would start its operations.
“A number of businesses were aggressive in recruiting from our neighboring islands—Rota, Tinian, Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Marshall Islands, and from the mainland—but it has minimal impact,” said Guerrero.
“It is costly for the business community and the cost for submission of a CW1 application is the same when it comes to recruiting non-alien workers. For the long-term plan and solution, the [CW1] program must continue.”
