Businessmen positive on 3-year limit repeal

After a period of descending gloom, the Commonwealth’s business leaders are beginning to feel more confident that a compromise on the three-year limit law is now on the horizon.

During the Saipan Chamber of Commerce’s Government Relations Committee meeting yesterday, businessmen expressed optimism that something positive will finally come out from the three-week Senate impasse on House Bill 12-137.

HB 12-137 seeks to repeal in toto Public Law 11-69, or the three year stay limit imposed on nonresident workers in the Northern Marianas.

Chamber President Anthony Pellegrino said, “After the tempers have cooled down, business leaders and lawmakers are now having a good dialogue and positive things are coming out of it. Hopefully in a week or two the 3-year limit would be repealed.”

Mr. Pellegrino also noted the group is amenable to a modified repeal of PL 11-69. The Senate leadership has hinted it is not keen on the repeal of the three-year limit in its entirety.

For his part, Chamber Vice President and Government Relations Committee Chair Richard Pierce said that after their conversation with the CNMI administration and ongoing work with the Senate, businessmen are confident now that there will be a change in PL 11-69.

“Finally there will be relief from the burdensome requirements under the existing law for business in the CNMI, and resolution of the trepidation expressed by those still resistant to an all-out repeal will be satisfied to the greatest extent,” he echoed.

Authored by Representative Malua Peter, HB 12-137 was passed by the House of Representatives last March 1. The Senate’s seeming inaction on the measure has brought out a few concerns from the business sector.

Mr. Pellegrino, for one, came out saying the repatriation of guest workers is a heartless act. He also criticized government for its double standard in having the business sector implement the three-year limit, while a number of state agencies are granted exemptions in hiring guest workers.

Mr. Pierce, on the other hand, was one of the first businessmen to suggest taking vigil in Senate grounds was the proper way to get the business sector’s message across to lawmakers.

The local hotel and restaurant association, HANMI, also indicated it will lose as much as 1,200 skilled employees in the first couple of months of PL 11-69’s implementation.

“They have given us a lot of their time to talk and the Senate door has always been open for us. It’s a very good sign. Lawmakers and businessmen are finally listening to each other,” Mr. Pellegrino noted.

The chamber president also revealed businessmen have come to appreciate the concerns of lawmakers. “We now understand they (senators) don’t want to appear backsliding on their promise to Washington, DC regarding PL 11-69.”