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Teno defends DOLI
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Posted on May 11 1999
Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday threw his strong support to Labor and Immigration Secretary Mark D. Zachares amid mounting complaints of inefficiency and bureaucratic procedure against the labor office that have angered businessmen.
Last week members of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce were supposed to hold a dialog with Zachares concerning problems confronting the business community in processing application of workers, but the meeting was called off by the DOLI chief.
“DOLI is trying is best,” the governor told reporters, in defending the department, as he expressed confidence that Zachares remains fit to hold the post.
According to Tenorio, the diversion of close to 500 illegal Chinese immigrants to the island municipality of Tinian has pre-occupied Zachares, whom he tasked to be the head of the operations for CNMI. “They have to understand that Mark is also making himself available but there are other situations like the Chinese illegals.”
“The business sector should come to us and sit down and try to find out what are the deficiencies or areas we should improve,” he added.
The meeting between the Chamber and Zachares had been scheduled to clarify some regulations put in place recently by the department, but his no-show has further enraged businessmen.
Among the issues which the Chamber wants the department to address immediately are that delays in processing of documents, bonding fees, deportation of nonresidents workers, as well as the influx of undocumented immigrants to the Northern Marianas.
According to business leaders, the dialog was not called to criticize the labor and immigration office but to offer help how these problems could be eliminated.
Rep. Oscar M. Babauta, chairman of the House Committee on Commerce and Tourism has stepped in to ease strains between the private sector and DOLI, saying he would call a meeting with labor and immigration officials to find solutions to the problems.
