SCC exec: Ben&Tim to bring ‘positive change’

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce looks forward to seeing “a positive change” in the CNMI economy under the Fitial-Villagomez administration.

SCC president Alex Sablan said he thinks that the victory of the Covenant Party’s tandem “is a cry from the public for a change in leadership.”

“I think that this is a positive change. …Their focal point in their platform is economic development,” said Sablan yesterday.

When asked about Ben&Tim’s economic platform, Sablan said, “I love it.”

Whatever concerns the business community might have with the new administration’s program would be identified and discussed in a meeting with them, he said.

Sablan said the business group aims to work closely with the new leadership.

He said his group has had a good working relationship with House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial and Vice Speaker Tim P. Villagomez.

“We have been able to work with the House leadership. We didn’t get everything that we wanted but we’ve been able to sit down with them. They’ve been accepting of our ideas as we have been accepting of theirs. I think there has been an open-door dialogue that has been created and it will be fostered,” said Sablan.

He said the chamber would not oppose Ben&Tim’s plan to bring in peanut and shoe factories to the CNMI if all issues of concerns are discussed and addressed.

“I’m not going to dispel any economic activity. There needs to be a dialogue about those manufacturing activities and how best to bring them so as not to impact the environment and the underlying issues about resident and nonresident workers, and minimum wage,” he said.

He said that if the next governor sees an opportunity to enhancing the economy through manufacturing, a public discussion must first be conducted.

“Through public hearings, the new governor will hear whether the public wants to see more manufacturing here,” he said.

SCC president-elect Charles V. Cepeda said the approach of the next administration should be “balanced.”

“We look forward to working with them. …We need to sit down and discuss things that need to be done within the CNMI. While we want to bring foreign investors, we also need to concentrate on what needs to be done within the islands,” he said.

He said developing another manufacturing industry in the CNMI should be well studied.

“I’m pretty sure the new administration will look into that and I hope they give us the opportunity to sit down with them,” Cepeda said.

Fitial and Villagomez won the 2005 gubernatorial race, picking up 3,809 votes or 28.07 percent of the total votes cast.

After claiming victory, Fitial said that his administration’s agenda is the economy. He said he would immediately meet with the business community, both locally and overseas, upon assumption to office. He said his administration would closely work with the business sector to stir up business activities.

Fitial said he would soon task Villagomez to form a transition committee that will come up with a plan for his incoming administration’s takeover of the CNMI government.