‘Open businesses are providing a great public service’

In just a matter of weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic has created a new normal for the CNMI and the rest of the world in how we live, socialize, study, and work. One of the factors that still gives everyone a sense of normalcy is that some goods and services are still available.

Palacios

Palacios

Many businesses in the CNMI have temporarily bowed out of operations one by one, as the COVID-19 situation worsened. But not all businesses. Many are still open with limited hours to provide fuel for cars, delivery of hot food and fresh vegetables and fruits, groceries and water, and even medicine, and Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Velma Palacios believes these businesses are providing a great public service right now.

“Within a span of two days, our community and businesses are forced to adapt to our new normal. With the announcement of positive cases of COVID-19 on Saipan and with the rising numbers of confirmed cases…I am grateful for the businesses that have remained open to provide critical services to our community,” she said.

“As a business owner and executive, it is difficult to decide whether to keep the doors open or close during this chaos. These business managers have to provide for the health and safety of stakeholders, which involves constant worry and strict precautionary measures for the safety and welfare for themselves, their employees, and their customers. These overwhelming risks may tip businesses into wanting to close their doors but, at the same time, we as a community ask many businesses to stay open to provide essential services,” Palacios added.

She said that most businesses are losing money but understand their role in providing critical products and services for families during these difficult times. “Many of their employees would have better peace of mind if they were able to self-quarantine and work from home. But not everyone is fortunate to do so, as keeping the business operational for at least some hours provides for our collective livelihoods.”

“We thank these businesses and their employees who continue to provide services to the community and ensure their customers are safe,” she said

These include businesses such as gas stations, banks, grocery stores, utilities, communications, health care providers, auto-repair, laundromats, water delivery, and many vendors, which Palacios said are all critical to the livelihood of our islands.

AC Pacific LLC president Alex B.K. Youn, who manages I Love Saipan stores and Star Sands Plaza, said that aside from the tourists, providing for the local community is always an important factor in their business portfolio.

“We have an outlet store on Middle Road for the local market and we are expanding our product lines and offering more discounted products on the packaged food products. …Our business is not making enough sales to meet the breakeven point but we have the three stores open because we have to keep our employees in the payroll and at the same time give service to the community,” he said.

“As we have the health and safety of the CNMI community in mind, our purchasing team has been sourcing out since early February and getting in masks and many products that are needed for the COVID-19 situation,” he added.

For their part, Palacios said that the Saipan Chamber of Commerce is trying to adapt to the new landscape by pushing out as much information as they can. “We want to keep businesses informed as more resources and information become available. We are working collaboratively with our CNMI government partners as processes are made in relations to the newly passed U.S. stimulus package and as we get more information, we will share more information.”

“This is a difficult time for everyone, not only in our community but globally. We ask for everyone’s cooperation in following the directives and guidelines issued by the COVID-19 Task Force, which is operating in our collective best interest. We are in this together, and, most importantly, we want everyone to remain safe and healthy,” she added.

Youn remains optimistic about the plight of the CNMI business community. “We’re trying our best to help the business community survive through this, whether they are open or not. I believe that tourism will rebound in the near future and businesses should make a long-term survival plan and get ready for the bright future ahead,” he said.

To stay updated with the CNMI business community, check www.saipanchamber.com/coronavirus-resource-page.