Taisakan asks for $100K allocation

Northern Islands mayor Valentin Taisakan is asking the Legislature for an immediate budget allocation of $100,000 to fund needed field trips to the islands and construction of typhoon shelters.

He said his office lacks funds for charter trips to the Northern Islands, a chain of 10 islets. “It’s difficult to go there because it’s too costly and we have no funds,” said the mayor.

Going by boat to the islands costs $3,000 a day. A boat usually carries 30 passengers plus cargoes.

Usually, he said, a boat stays in the Northern Islands for five to seven days.

A trip by helicopter is more expensive at $900 per hour. A helicopter ride from Saipan to Pagan takes two hours.

“This is more costly because helicopters can only carry six people and a very limited supply while boats can accommodate more people and cargoes,” said the mayor.

Taisakan said visits to the islands at this time are crucial in view of recent developments such as the renewed interest by foreign investors to mine pozzolan at Mt. Pagan.

He said he also needs to visit Alamagan and Agrihan for the proposed construction of typhoon-proof shelters there. He said this is part of a planned resettlement of some families in the area. At least 50 people are willing to resettle the two islands, he said.

Taisakan said that he has met with House Speaker Benigno Fitial to discuss the funding needs. “The speaker said that he will help us and do his best to find needed funding.”

He said the Saipan and Northern Island delegation was set to tackle the issue yesterday.

Under the continuing resolution, the Northern Islands mayor’s office is allocated some $533,000 for fiscal year 2004. For 2005, its budget proposal totals some $591,000.

Earlier, Taisakan urged potential investors to just come to the CNMI to present their business proposals for Pagan mining.

He noted that his office lacks funds to send him to overseas trips to meet with investors like what transpired last month.

He said he missed the trips led by the Marianas Public Lands Authority and some lawmakers to Phoenix and Dallas simply for lack of budget.

MPLA and some senators met with officials of Arizona-based Azmar International and Texas-based Consolidated American Energy Resources Inc.

The MPLA said it has received applications from the two companies to mine pozzolan and basalt at Mt. Pagan.