RIFT SPARKED RESIGNATION? Deets quits

In a surprise move, Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Kerry M. Deets yesterday resigned from her post amid reports of infighting among the board of directors of the island’s only business group.

Deets, who was installed as Chamber head in January 1999, cited her new job with GTE Pacifica and her family as the main reasons for her decision in quitting the job.

“The company has offered me a tremendous career opportunity and my new duties and responsibilities, combined with the needs of my family, must take priority as I begin my adventure toward new heights,” said Deets wrote to the board members yesterday.

Deets claimed she has “enjoyed” her work with the Chamber and will continue to support its efforts in whatever way she can. With her resignation, Chamber vice president Gregg Kresge will takeover her post.

In endorsing her successor, Deets said she believes Kresge is a very capable person who is well suited to handle the duties as President. “I believe that he will serve the membership well…I have every confidence that under Gregg’s leadership, you will be able to successfully achieve the goals and objectives that were outlined at the start of the year,” she added.

Reports about the rift within the Chamber surfaced when Deets issued a statement taking back her earlier position opposing the three-year limit on the stay of nonresident workers. Deets said such move would stave off federalization of minimum wage and immigration.

Deets even pressed Chamber members to “reexamine” their position in order to ease the burden of the government in deciding whether to rely on foreign manpower.

But several weeks after, the board of directors held a meeting and adopted a resolution which reaffirmed its strong objection to the three-year residency limit on the stay of guest workers in the CNMI.

According to the board of directors, Deets aired her views to the media as member of the CNMI 902 panel and not as Chamber president.

Despite opposition from the private sector, the controversial measure was passed by the Legislature and became Public Law 11-69 when it was signed last March.

Due to cheap labor and lack of available local manpower, businessmen here prefer Asians, mostly Chinese and Filipinos, to fill in the shortage in the labor pool.

There are an estimated 30,000 foreign workers in the Northern Marianas who hold more than 90 percent of the jobs in the private sector, and their growth on the islands has worried federal officials due to a string of social and economic problems arising from their presence.

She also served as co-chair of the governor’s economic recovery and revitalization task force subcommittee on finance and technology.

When she was voted Chamber president, Deets vowed to help the CNMI government thwart attempts to federalize local labor and immigration and assist the island leaders develop the slumping economy.