Previous Story
CPA resolution to urge CBP to hire more
Faced with the daunting task of shortening the long immigration wait lines at the Saipan airport, the Commonwealth Ports Authority plans to send a resolution to Customs and Border Protection to formally request it to hire more people.
CPA board member and airport committee chair Barrie Toves told Saipan Tribune yesterday that since the screening of tourists lies in the hands of CBP, it makes sense to appeal to them to increase the number of screeners at the Francisco C. Ada Saipan International Airport.
“We understand that the processing of the passengers is in their control, but there seems to be a problem with the delays, so we are requesting formally through the resolution that they increase [their] manpower,” said Toves.
CBP director Robert Humphrey is expected to visit Saipan in mid-April. CPA is looking to take advantage of his presence by giving him their resolution to pass to CBP higher-ups.
Rep. Don Barcinas (R-Saipan) and Rep. Lorenzo Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan) attended yesterday’s CPA board meeting. Barcinas, who chairs the House’s Transportation Committee, supported the resolution.
“We want [CPA] to know that the Transportation Committee members stand ready to work with the CPA management team and the CPA board of directors,” said Barcinas. “We are committed to improving the wellbeing of the people of the CNMI by focusing our priorities on all the transportation needs of the people who live and visit our islands.”
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres earlier directed CPA to look into ongoing tourism issues that could jeopardize the CNMI’s parole authority. It is that authority which allows the entry of Chinese and Russian tourists to the CNMI.
Chinese tourists make up 40 percent of total visitors in fiscal years 2016, according to the Marianas Visitors Authority.
According to Torres’ letter to CPA, if the CNMI loses its parole authority, “[we will] revert to severe economic depression [the CNMI] experienced only a few short years ago.”
