Tinian Chamber of Commerce revived, Mendiola-Long is named new president

After years of inactivity, the Tinian Chamber of Commerce is back in business to help voice out Tinian’s concerns on the impact of a federal immigration system on the economy, the consequences of military activities, and follow up on the status of capital improvement projects on the island, among other things.

Yesterday, 19 business representatives elected Phillip Mendiola-Long, executive vice president of Bridge Investment Group-CNMI, as the 2009 president of the Tinian Chamber of Commerce.

“The importance of reviving the Tinian Chamber of Commerce is because the CNMI is facing massive governmental and economic changes that require a cohesive message from the business community,” Mendiola-Long told Saipan Tribune.

He said if ideas and concerns are not funneled through a single organization, such as a chamber of commerce, the messages could be diluted or misinterpreted by the receiver.

“We felt that, especially with the military and the federal government’s lack of attention to the outer islands, it was important to voice our frustrations while offering practical solutions to a process that, for now, doesn’t seem to recognize the Tinian community as stakeholders,” he added.

While only 19 showed up at yesterday’s first meeting, the Chamber received a total membership of almost 30, Mendiola-Long said.

Don Farrell, a former president of the Tinian Chamber of Commerce, conducted yesterday’s meeting but requested not to be nominated to office due to other obligations.

The following officers were elected:

-Philip Mendiola-Long, president, representing Bridge Investment Group and Sherman Worldwide;

-Don J. Power, vice president, representing FPA Inc. and Tinian Ice and Water;

-Allen Perez, secretary and treasurer, representing Susan’s Creations;

-Reid Ellis, board member, representing Grace Christian Academy;

-Jose P. Cruz, board member, representing Silves-Jem’s BBQ Garden; and

-Jeff Barr, board member, representing Telesource CNMI.

Mendiola-Long said priorities for the Tinian Chamber of Commerce will be established by majority of members in a series of meetings where several issues will be discussed.

He said these include the impacts of a federal immigration system and another increase in minimum wage, the status of Tinian capital improvement projects and how to get those projects moving, access to federal grants, and doing business with the federal government via Guam/Small Business Administration trainings on Tinian.

Other issues expected to be tackled are working on policy changes for streamlining government bureaucracy, working with the Legislature on drafting business friendly legislation, working with the government to identify areas where the U.S. stimulus and housing bailout programs can help Tinian, and looking at free trade with Guam.

Mendiola-Long said at this point, the Chamber is trying to get the community to understand the implications of a federal immigration system on Tinian.

He took issue with the only 13 individuals and groups that so far submitted comments on the interim final regulations on the establishment of U.S. ports of entry in the CNMI and the implementation of the Guam-CNMI visa waiver program.

“Thirteen comments will not resonate with the powers-that-be,” he said in a phone interview.

Tinian saw many businesses leaving the island due to the downturn in visitor arrivals, especially with the pullout of Japan Airlines.

“The silver lining has been that both Korea and China have been the major contributors to saving the Tinian tourism economy from total collapse. Now that China will be taken away, and the Korean economy shrinking, Tinian is faced with the very near possibility of a loss of 80 percent of its entire visitor market. Therefore, it is imperative that the business community stand together and do whatever possible to protect what little market we have left in order for the economy to survive,” Mendiola-Long added.

Tinian’s gaming industry relies heavily on Chinese tourists, who, along with Russian tourists, will be required to secure U.S. visas before entering the CNMI beginning June 1 unless the transition to a federal immigration system is delayed.