‘Save endangered local marine business’

If someone owes me more money than I owe him and he wants me to pay him, my answer would simply be: “Pay me first and I’ll pay you. Or take out what I owe you and pay me the difference.”

I’ve been in the marine sports business for over 10 years and I’ve seen many local marine businesses fail in this terrible economy. Seaspray is one of the last local businesses with Fred Nosek and his boat. I lived on Navy Hill with Fred growing up and I know the road that the government took from Fred’s Family. I know his father who is very ill and his mother who takes care of him. They are good and decent people. Fred asks for nothing except fairness.

The problem is the DPL won’t say when it will pay, only when the government finds money. But CDA wants Fred to pay within five years even if the government doesn’t pay him for the road. He has tried his best to get paid by DPL, even if it has taken over 15 years just to get an offer to pay. Is that fair that if he doesn’t get paid in five years, they’ll take and destroy an endangered local business?

Outside foreign investors get to apply for a Qualifying Certificate from CDA and pay no taxes. A local like Fred has paid his taxes and he only ask that CDA take the money from the compensation when paid instead of taking away his livelihood which he loves so much. CDA says they don’t know when Fred will be paid. That is the problem but it is not a problem that Fred can control.

And it isn’t fair. That is the problem. Hopefully, CDA will be part of the solution, a fair solution, and not part of the problem. Hopefully, we can save Seaspray Marine and a hardworking local businessman like Fred Nosek.

In closing, I hope to see CDA accept Fred’s proposal and work with DPL on a settlement to close Mr. Nosek’s loan. Give Fred all his titles back so he could continue doing his business stress-free from CDA and continue to do his best in serving our ailing tourism industry.

Times are hard enough. We need to support the tourism industry and those who cater them. They are the ones on the frontline serving our guests, trying hard to satisfy them and hope that these guests become repeat customers or advertise their services by word of mouth.

Remember that the private sector keeps the government alive by paying taxes. To have better times we must try to find solutions and not hurt the ones that help contribute to the economy, even if it just a little. Fred’s business is small but eventually, knowing Fred, he will expand it if the better times arrive. Businesses and the people of the CNMI will bring this to reality and not the government alone. We should be a team and work toward this goal. Therefore, I ask CDA and DPL to settle this matter that Fred Nosek is owed. If not, I hope our legislators will step in.