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CNMI apprenticeship program created
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Posted on Apr 16 2009
Gov. Benigno Fitial and officials from the Public School System, Northern Marianas College and the Workforce Investment Agency signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday, creating a federally-registered apprenticeship program in the CNMI.
NMC will be the administrative authority for the program, which is registered with the U.S. Department of Labor.
“It’s a difficult goal to achieve, but it’s something we’re so proud to be able to offer. These people will be able to do excellent jobs for us. Certainly the quality of work is important for us as we prepare to move the Commonwealth forward,” NMC president Carmen Fernandez said.
The program can be transferred globally, but the priority is to build the local workforce, she said.
The trades involved will be market driven. The tourism and hospitality industry is one example of a key area that can be developed under the program. Another area could be utilities, where the students becomes certified in electricity, said Edith DeLeon Guerrero, WAI executive director.
With the stimulus funding coming down the pipeline, every state and insular area is required to implement the program, DeLeon Guerrero said.
“It’s history in the making for all of us,” she added.
Because of the Guam military buildup, Fitial said the CNMI would soon have a shipyard needing many workers.
“There’s going to be a lot of those trades needed working in that particular industry,” the governor said.
Public Law 14-54 and PL 15-5 were enacted to establish and implement the apprenticeship program.
“Also, the implementation of Public law 110-229 places greater importance on the implementation of the apprenticeship program for the CNMI State to be more responsive to the needs of the private sector industries at the local, regional, and national level,” the memorandum stated.
DeLeon Guerrero said a program budget of $1.5 million was submitted to the Legislature but it will need to be scaled down.
Esther Fleming of the Office of Budget and Management earlier said the administration was looking at suspending the program, in order to use the $1.5 million elsewhere. But Charles Reyes, press secretary for the Governor’s Office, said that is not the case.
