Three-year limit issue divides Legislature • Senate action disappoints businesses; House insists outright repeal

A proposed measure passed by the Senate yesterday suspending the implementation of the three-year limit law until 2005 is not likely to make it through the House of Representatives.

Some members of the House were apparently as dismayed as business leaders when the Senate chose to act on what could be yet another “temporary” measure seen to turn off potential investors.

The Legislature’s upper chamber passed Senator Ramon S. Guerrero’s proposal that will create a task force to study possible effects of the three-year stay limitation law to businesses in the Northern Marianas.

Congressmen believe a more concrete action — one that is long-term in nature and one that will give existing businesses and future investments more security in terms of workers’ availability — is the only answer.

Some members of the lower house vowed to block the “suspension bill’s” passage once the House of Representatives deliberates on the proposed measure. They said they would continue to insist for the repeal of the three-year limit law in its entirety.

Senators, aside from Sen. Edward Maratita, voted in favor of the two-year suspension of the stay limitation’s implementation while impact assessments are undertaken by a proposed task force composed of representatives from both the business and public sectors.

Sen. Thomas P. Villagomez lambasted the islands’ business community because of its strong demand to stop the implementation of the stay limit law. Mr. Villagomez was apparently irked by the private sector’s persistent calls for business-friendly measures.

“Even when the moratorium is lifted, we should still limit the entry of nonresident workers. CNMI should not continue importing nonresidents, this employment should be for local and not for nonresident workers,” said Mr. Villagomez.

He criticized the business sector for using public lands and for demanding more incentives, as he claimed that there had been so little effort on the part of the private sector to hire local workers.

Mr. Villagomez issued his strongly-worded statements during the Senate session yesterday, without apparent consideration on the contributions made by the business community in helping the CNMI become one of the most financially-independent insular areas in the American political family.

On the other hand, Senator Pete P. Reyes threw his support to the calls made by the business sector which came in full force yesterday to personally witness how the Senate would decide on the three proposals pending before the chamber.

“There is no division among the business industry. They come together and unite to rid nuisance legislation. Not only businesses will suffer but even childcare and health services. We have problems on human resources and that gap can be filled only by nonresident workers,” said the senator.

Further, the legislator reminded his colleagues that investments are the backbone of the Commonwealth economy, adding that the economy will continue to grapple in the dark once investors decide to leave the Northern Marianas due to lack of qualified workers.

Businessmen present at the gallery expressed disappointment over the decision made by the Senate. They said the amendments do not resolve the issue at hand.

Hotel Association President Ron Sablan said it was a letdown on the part of the businesses since all necessary information were forwarded to the upper chamber to help them decide on the issue.

“We accommodate local employees, but until when will they understand there’s not enough workforce to support the businesses. If we want that to happen, we have to wait until 2045 to have enough local workers,” said Mr. Sablan.

He said businesses are still hoping for a total repeal of the three-year limit law, in order to alleviate the conditions faced by both the local business community and the Commonwealth economy.

Under the existing law, guest workers who have stayed in the Commonwealth for three consecutive years must leave and stay outside the Northern Marianas for six months before they can be employed again. (EGA)