CDA urged to invest in planned cargo airline for Marianas

Arctic Circle Air Corp., a company that wants to set up a cargo airline called Cargo Air Bridge in the CNMI to address the high shipping cost that has hampered the growth of the agriculture industry in the CNMI, wants the Commonwealth Development Authority to invest in this venture.

Company president Anthony Pellegrino presented his proposal at a CDA board meeting last week. He was joined by other company officials and community members who all expressed support for the project that Pellegrino said “will help rejuvenate the economy that we’re all suffering from.”

“I am standing before you requesting the board to invest. I’m not asking for a loan,” Pellegrino told board members Wednesday.

Pellegrino disclosed that he has already talked to several private investors who have expressed interest in the project and “are willing to put up the money.”

“But I don’t want that. I want the people of the CNMI to be actively involved as investors. So therefore, I am standing in front of you asking to please, come in as an investor,” said Pellegrino, adding that he has discussed his proposal in detail with CDA executive director Manuel Sablan and loan manager Oscar Camacho.

Pellegrino said about 45 investors-both farmers and non-farmers-have already invested in Arctic Circle Air, which aims to provide an economic bridge that would connect the islands of Saipan, Tinian, Rota, the Northern Islands, and Guam by reviving the agriculture industry.

“The basic thing is to encourage and motivate the farmers on the islands to go back to farming,” he said.

Arctic Circle Air’s Paul Zak said that without transportation, there is no way to move agricultural commodities produced by local farmers and bring them to market, which is “Guam and beyond.”

“If you can’t move it, you got nothing in your hand. This is an opportunity for development,” Zak said, addressing the board.

Unlike existing airline companies, Zak said that Arctic Circle Air will focus on the islands’ need for a cargo airline and “finding a mechanism that services that need.”

Herman R. Deleon Guerrero urged the board to support this “local” company, reminding them “about the economic plight that we are experiencing right now and the suffering that each and everyone in the community is experiencing.”

“Arctic Circle Air is a business where we can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he added.

Agriculture consultant Isidoro T. Cabrera said his involvement with the company focuses on providing technical assistance to farmers and ranchers on the type of crops and the right varieties to grow to maximize production. “It’s very important to have this knowledge.”

While the Northern Marianas College – Cooperative Research Extension and Education Service cannot sponsor a specific business, director Ross Manglona said that their office could sponsor a concept.

“Although we cannot go out and say we support this particular company, we support the concept. The concept they portray takes care of farming on Rota, farming on Tinian, farming on Saipan,” he said, adding that Arctic Circle Air’s concept “has an approach that tackles many areas of agricultural constraints.”

The board went into executive session after all public comments were heard regarding the Arctic Circle Air proposal.

CDA management said that Arctic Circle Air would be informed about the board’s decision in writing, which is expected to soon.