Teno keeps options open on 3-year limit brouhaha

Breaking his silence on what could be the most talked about issue in the CNMI, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday dropped strong hints he may support moves to suspend implementation of the three-year limit law.

In an interview with reporters yesterday, Mr. Tenorio said he has been very critical of any proposal to impose restrictions on the stay of nonresidents on the islands, amid the absence of sufficient local workers to man government and business operations.

“Even when I signed it into law, I made it clear in my transmittal letter to the Legislature that there may be a need to revisit some of the provisions because we may not yet be ready by the time if comes into effect,” he said.

The governor reiterated the Commonwealth would still have to depend on nonresident workers in major industries. During the time the measure was being deliberated on in the Legislature, he hinted indication that the measure could not totally be acceptable to the administration.

However, the local chief executive maintained that the business sector should start looking at the available local manpower to fill in vacancies in their companies to at least lessen the Commonwealth’s dependence on foreign workers.

“I think it is about time that we should consider our people for the vacant positions in the private sector, as well as train them to be qualified workers,” said Mr. Tenorio as he urged business leaders to help the government in this area.

Public Law 11-69 obligates nonresident workers to exit and remain outside the Commonwealth for six months after three consecutive years of stay in the islands before they are allowed to seek re-employment.

The three-year stay limit applies to all nonresident workers in the CNMI, except for those holding professional or executive positions earning an annual salary of more than $30,000.

The bill defined professional as those who receive more than $30,000 in annual compensation; those who are in fields requiring advanced training or original or creative work which is artistic; those who are engaged in teaching, dental, nursing and other medical professions

Under the law, a nonresident worker shall not be permitted to remain in the CNMI for more than three consecutive years without exiting the Commonwealth and remain off island for six months and until such time the worker has secured employment in the Northern Marianas.

Since the three-year countdown started in March 1999, the CNMI may see exodus of nonresidents beginning next year to the detriment of the local economy as projected by business leaders and economic experts.

This grim projection drove business owners to press the Legislature to move towards the repeal of the three-year stay limit on nonresidents.

Senate Floor Leader Pete Reyes has supported this call as he acknowledged the business sector’s concerns, point out that nonresident workers have undeniable played a major part in the economic development of the Northern Marianas.

This, even as he mentioned that initial information revealed a significant drop on the nonresident population count on the island although the senator attributed the reduction on the ripple effect of the local economy’s slump since 1998.

The Commonwealth economy, at its present stage, is not yet ready to witness an exodus of skilled workers and professionals, due to the absence of enough local manpower to fill in the positions that may be left vacant by nonresident workers.