Don’t let NMTI fall prey to petty politics

Once again I am compelled to write to the media concerning another issue of grave importance to the people of the CNMI. The Northern Marianas Trades Institute. NMTI.

The governor’s veto of Senate Bill 20-21 that would have turned the Northern Marianas Trade Institute into a public institution is a bad decision made at the wrong time. NMTI was started 10 years ago to address the CNMI’s manpower needs caused by the takeover of U.S. immigration.

It was not until about three years ago when Agnes MacPhetres took over as NMTI’s CEO. Under her management the school really began to get organized.

Since Ms. MacPhetres took over the helm we have expanded our programs to the high schools. We have added new classes and started the adult high school (serving students who are too old or who are a bad fit for conventional high school). We have broken the previous goal of 200 and now have broken the 500 student mark. However, despite our success, growth, expansion, and collaboration with the various business and government entities, NMTI has only received minimal support from the governor’s office. I don’t understand how this bill could pass the Senate and the House unanimously and yet get vetoed by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres.

Gov. Torres cited reasons for his veto, being that it would cost the CNMI additional funding. However, perhaps none of his many advisers advised him that being a CNMI entity would enable the NMTI to acquire access to federal grants. Costing the CNMI nothing at all.

The beneficiaries to this school would have been the people of the CNMI. Those who want to choose an academic education would be able to choose NMC and those interested in trades and join the workforce would attend NMTI. I understand that there are other schools on the island. However, when you compare the CW funding allocated, NMTI receives the least, Latte Academy receives the most, yet NMTI still beats Latte in the number of graduates.

Plus, through our extensive connection to business establishments we find employment for our graduates.

Under Public Law 110-229, section 6 has this mandate: 6) Certain education funding- In addition to fees charged pursuant to section 286(m) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(m)) to recover the full costs of providing adjudication services, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall charge an annual supplemental fee of $150 per nonimmigrant worker to each prospective employer who is issued a permit under subsection (d) of this section during the transition period.

Such supplemental fee shall be paid into the Treasury of the Commonwealth government for the purpose of funding ongoing vocational educational curricula and program development by Commonwealth educational entities.

NMTI meets this mandate every single day. And despite the obstacles placed in front of us by the Administration/Scholarship Office, we continue to serve our people.

One may ask, have we experienced growing pains? Of course, we have. Have we had bad instructors? Yes, that has also happened. But know this, our team at NMTI works diligently to correct these issues once they pop up. Overall, there has only been a paucity of such instances it is for this reason that I feel that NMTI is good for the future of the Commonwealth.

I plead my case to the people of the CNMI. Call your representative from your precinct, call your senator, advise them to override this governor’s veto. NMTI supports the people of the CNMI. Don’t let this trade school fall prey to petty politics.

Fred P. Deleon Guerrero 
Northern Marianas Trade Institute