Industry leaders discuss issues with Babauta

CNMI industry leaders met last week at the request of Gov. Juan N. Babauta and Washington Representative Pete A. Tenorio to discuss matters affecting both business and the government’s ability to provide essential public services.

Also discussed was the two NMI leaders’ latest trip to Washington, D.C., where policy issues and plans were brought up with top U.S. officials.

Those in attendance at the April 16 meeting at the Governor’s conference room on Capitol Hill, were Babauta; Tenorio; acting Secretary of Finance Frank Villanueva; Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association Chairman James C. Lin; Saipan Chamber of Commerce President Richard A. Pierce; Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands President Ron D. Sablan; CNMI Contractors Association Co-chairmen Richard Szumiel and Peter Errett Jr.; and Marcie Tomokane of the Saipan Bankers Association.

The five organizations make up the Western Pacific Economic Council, an umbrella organization of all business sector groups in the CNMI, registered in April of 1998.

Babauta and Tenorio addressed issues on matters pertaining to stabilizing the business climate in the Commonwealth. According to the governor, the economy must be made conducive and attractive to both existing and prospective investors.

The two officials presented their perspective and recommendations before the business leaders on the CNMI’s minimum wage issue. They both called for an end to the ongoing uncertainty of political ramifications associated without a plan on wage rate decisions.

Both leaders expressed their understanding of the current economic hardship, the need to address the wage issue, and the potential solution they see in a tiered-wage approach currently in use in American Samoa, and as a part of the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act.

Labor matters, immigration and resident hiring were tabled until the next round of talks.

“We are glad that our leaders are consulting us on extremely crucial matters like minimum wage and labor,” said HANMI President Ron D. Sablan. “We hope this is the start of a closer dialogue process with the administration, that we hope, is more sensitive and responsive to the well-being of the business sector.”

SGMA Chairman Lin applauded the governor’s frank discussion with business leaders, stating, “Our industry thanks the Governor for his acknowledgement of our revenue contributions.

“We are especially pleased with his desire to support our long life in the CNMI. We thank him for working toward the industry’s permanency via introduction of amendments in the federal government’s regulatory bodies.”

Contractors Association Chairman Szumiel also expressed gladness about the Administration’s meeting with the construction industry leaders.

“For once, it seems as if we in the real world are hearing the government present what we have been asking for since 1994, when even the federal agreed with our local findings that a tiered wage system was acceptable, and where fair wages could be determined for all parties – the local workforce and the Asian contract workers,” he said.

For his part, Chamber President Richard A. Pierce said he agreed with the plan suggested by the governor and the Washington representative.

“The idea of federal involvement in establishing a fair wage rate system in the CNMI without loss of local authority, and where independent non-political assessments are conducted, is all that the Chamber has ever asked for,” said Pierce. “The Chamber agrees with this concept and looks forward to being a part of that process.”

All those attending expressed a very real sense of cooperation and willingness to stay engaged on the single biggest matter before the group, the health and sustainability of the economy through solid government planning and oversight.

Also attending were 28 other directors and officers of the five business organizations, and government support staff.