Labor issues lead senatorial debate

Six senatorial candidates bravely stepped into the spotlight on Monday night to state their positions on a wide range of issues concerning the Commonwealth.

The candidates present at the debate sponsored by the Saipan Chamber of Commerce were Thomas P. Villagomez, Joaquin Quitugua, Andrew Salas, Claudio K. Norita, Maria Frica T. Pangelinan, and Pete P. Reyes.

They are competing for the three available positions in the Third Senatorial District.

During the debate, each candidate took turns in selecting a question from one of the following categories: ethics, education, economy, environment, health care, federal relations, and infrastructure.

Moderator Jon Anderson, president of the Sorensen Pacific Broadcasting, started the debate with the question concerning the CNMI economy’s dependency on a nonresident workforce. Specifically, the candidates were asked whether the existing moratorium on the hiring of nonresident workers should be lifted.

Villagomez said that the moratorium should remain in place, maintaining that there were enough local workers to fill the need of the private sector.

According to Quitugua, the government should not only protect local jobs, but also make a commitment to ensure that resident workers are trained and certified in their fields or professions.

Salas, a former deputy secretary of Labor, said that no real hiring moratorium would be in place as long as mechanisms allowing alien workers to change employers exist.

Norita stressed the importance of identifying job skills needed in local industries. This, he said, would guide resident workers on what fields to get into and thereby help make job finding easier for them.

Pangelinan said the government should ensure that nonresident workers do not “float around” when the industry needs that brought them to the island are no longer present.

Reyes, for his part, said that dependency on nonresident workers should stop, citing it as a cause for the rising unemployment rate among locals.

The candidates also outlined their positions on issues such as the NMI Retirement Fund, funding for education, the power crisis and the need for alternative sources of energy, and the passage of a budget.

Each candidate was given five minutes at the end of the debate to state their positions and try to gain favor with the voters.

Held at Dai Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach, the debate drew a crowd composed of top government officials, political candidates, business executives, and community leaders.

A similar debate for gubernatorial candidates will be held on Oct. 26, Wednesday, 7pm at the World Resort Diamond Hall.